At the start of summer, New York lawmakers passed a bill that called for state regulators to speed up the downstate casino licensing process. That piece of legislation, however, has gone untouched by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
And the frustration that had already been building continues to boil over regarding the snail’s pace that has been the awarding of three licenses, which currently sets up those new casinos to open no earlier than 2026.
Speaking on a panel at the Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga earlier this month, Sen. Joseph Addabbo – who has stood at the forefront of expediting the licensing process – echoed statements he has frequently made over the past year. More specifically, Addabbo emphasized the need for more clarity from the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB).
