In New York, the Wait Continues

Casinos seen as lifelines for depressed economies

The intense bidding war among developers for four casino licenses in New York State is highlighting the struggles facing once-vibrant communities. According to the Washington Times, Binghamton, New York was once a thriving manufacturing town until IBM and Endicott Johnson reduced their presence in the community. Binghamton hopes the proposed Traditions casino could restore some of its lost luster.

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus,” said Steven Shaffer, owner of a Binghamton barbecue restaurant. “That’s how bad it is around here.”??The situation may be just as bleak in the Catskill Mountains, once a resort destination for vacationing New Yorkers. Developers such as Capelli Enterprises, part of the team that hopes to develop Mohegan Sun at the former Concord Hotel, said if the site selection committee chooses its project, “You will be walking into a world-class resort in 18 months. We guarantee it.” COO Bryan Capelli said the development would be “a true comeback” for the Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountains area.

Representatives of Empire Resorts, the developers planning a $1 billion destination resort called Montreign in the Catskills, promised their casino would be “a game-changer for Sullivan County,” where residents have been the “victim of empty promises for decades.”

The team behind the proposed Lago Resort & Casino, planned for Tyre, Seneca County, promise a $425 million investment that will mean $90 million in annual payments to state and local governments and 1,800 permanent jobs, according to the Finger Lakes Times. And Howe Caverns says its $450 million proposal would revitalize an entire region in Schoharie County.

There are four proposals for Orange County, which is closer to New York City and arguably less in need of economic development. In fact, some developers say a casino in Orange County would cut off the flow of customers to gaming halls further upstate. And that, they say, would defeat the purpose of the 2013 referendum pushed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and approved by voters.

Mitchell Etess, chairman and CEO of Mohegan Sun and part of the Concord project, warned that no Catskills resort could succeed if the state chooses to license an Orange County casino. “It would cut off the primary market of Sullivan,” he said. With an Orange casino, “the revitalization of the Catskills is over.”??“There are no dogs in the hunt here,” Board Chairman Kevin Law said in September. “Everybody has done a good job. Everyone is doing everything they have to do to position their community to be one of the ones selected. The challenge for us is we can only pick up to four, which means, at minimum, 12 won’t make it. That’ll be the hard part.”

While some communities are clamoring for the jobs and taxes a casino would bring, environmentalists and preservationists fear that building mega-resorts upstate possibly could harm the ecosystem and change the character of the communities.

According to Nyack News and Views, studies show that construction of a casino in Southern Orange County would taint drinking water in southern New York and northern New Jersey. And the influential Harriman family, which donated land to New York State to help create Sterling Forest in Orange County, has vowed to use its financial and legal resources to combat a casino there.

Here are the 16 contenders:?

• Sterling Forest Resort in Tuxedo, Orange County. Genting Americas.

• Caesars New York in Woodbury, Orange County. Caesars Entertainment

• Resorts World Hudson Valley in Montgomery, Orange County. Genting Americas.

• The Live! Hotel and Casino in South Blooming Grove, Orange County. Cordish Companies and Penn National Gaming.

• Hudson Valley Casino & Resort in Newburgh, Orange County. Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Rush Street Gaming.

• Grand Hudson Resort & Casino in New Windsor, Orange County. Greenetrack.

• Montreign Resort Casino in Thompson, Sullivan County. Empire Resorts.

• Mohegan Sun at the Concord in Thompson, Sullivan County. Concord Kiamesha LLC and Mohegan Gaming NY.

• Nevele Resort, Casino & Spa, Ellenville in Ulster County. Nevele.

• Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, Schenectady County. Capital Region Gaming.

• Howe Caverns Resort & Casino in Howes Cave, Schoharie County. Howe Caves Development.