Developers held a formal topping-off ceremony for the Tioga Downs Casino and Resort in Schenectady, despite still awaiting its formal licensing approval.
The project has been approved in principle and just awaits the conclusion of background checks, which the New York Gaming Commission says mostly is a formality. Once the license is approved, the former Tioga Downs race facility should reopen as a full casino, and would be the first of four rural gaming operations to get underway.
In Schenectady, the $330 million Rivers Casino and Resort is ahead of schedule, and officials held a topping off ceremony on March 7. The anticipate opening in early 2017.
In Seneca County, developers officially named the Tyre casino project the del Lago Resort & Casino, and launched a new supporting website so locals and others can track progress at dellagoresort.com.
The website is designed to help tourists and other visitors to better explore the Finger Lakes region while visiting by featuring its many unique attractions. Encouraging visitors to go out and explore the area also helps to boost economic activity for more local businesses, and improve the local economy, del Lago Casino officials say.
The del Lago Casino is slated to open in early 2017, with 2,000 slots, 75 table games, and 10 poker tables in a dedicated poker room.
While progress continues in Tyre, the proposed Montreign Resort Casino now has an effective gaming license, thanks to the New York Gaming Commission.
With its license in place, the 90,000-square-foot casino, 18 story hotel, and 27,000-square-foot exhibition space have become certainties, and it will be easier to obtain financing for the project.
Once completed, plans call for 2,150 slots machines, 102 table games, and up to 16 poker tables in a dedicated poker room. Plans also call for seven restaurants, an entertainment venue, and, eventually, complementary developments, such as a water park.
