New York lawmakers may have declined to approve a casino in New York City, but that doesn’t mean the campaign is over. According to the Washington Examiner, plans continue to award three casino licenses to downstate communities—possibly including Manhattan or one of New York City’s other four boroughs.
The New York State Gaming Commission must first issue a request-for-information (RFI), both to gauge interest in the downstate licenses and determine the casinos’ potential size and scope. Under current law, the licenses would not be awarded until 2023.
Addabbo tried to speed the downstate licenses as part of the 2021 budget process, citing a need to spur job growth and development coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A report in the New York Post cited a study by industry consultants Spectrum Gaming Group that showed a Manhattan casino, along with upgrading existing racinos at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens and Yonkers Raceway, would produce more gaming tax revenue than if the resort license was awarded to Brooklyn or Queens.
The Big Apple scenario would generate an estimated $1.31 billion in gaming tax revenues—$46.7 million more than a Brooklyn resort and $58.7 million more than under a Queens facility. Addabbo, chairman of the state Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, said a casino anywhere in New York City would be successful.
“Generally speaking, licenses go to where you need an economic boost in terms of construction jobs, post-construction jobs … for New Jersey, they were placed on a boardwalk that was a blight prior to the casinos getting there,” he said. “Even in our state, the first four full-fledged casinos were placed upstate in areas that needed an economic boost. So I can see there’s an argument to be made that you don’t need it in Manhattan. Manhattan already has its economic boost. But I would think anywhere in the five boroughs, it’s going to be lucrative.”
