Genting New York LLC, a subsidiary of Genting Malaysia, has been identified as one of the Top 10 highest-spending lobbying entities in New York State last year. According to the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics’ 2020 Annual Report, published July 8, the unit came in sixth on the list, spending $1,221,000 in its effort to expand gaming downstate.
Genting runs Resorts World New York, a gaming hall located in Queens borough alongside Aqueduct Racetrack, offering more than 6,500 slots and electronic table games on two floors, as well as Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, about two hours north, which is a full-scale casino complete with all the accompanying amenities. According to Inside Asian Gaming, the company’s 2020 lobbying efforts coincided with a push by Governor Andrew Cuomo to delay a public tender for NYC casino licenses to 2023 due to Covid-19. According to the New York Post, “Manhattan politicos squashed Cuomo’s plan to fast-track a Las Vegas-style casino in the Big Apple,” due to pushback from lawmakers.
“I adamantly oppose any casino in Manhattan,” Manhattan Assemblyman Richard Gottfried told the newspaper. “I believe it would be seriously detrimental to the residential and commercial quality of Manhattan.”
Other companies eyeing the Manhattan opportunity are Wynn Resorts, Bally’s Corp. and the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the Post reported.
Resorts World parent company Genting Berhad just opened its US$4.3 million Resorts World Las Vegas on the north end of the Strip.
