For years, casino companies have salivated over the prospect of a casino in New York City, one of the last major untapped gambling markets in the United States and a global tourist destination anchoring a metropolitan area with about 23 million residents.
They may soon get what they were looking for.
In April, elected officials in Albany authorized up to three casino licenses for downstate New York, which includes New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.
New York voters first approved the legalization of Las Vegas-style casinos in the state in 2013. Andrew Cuomo, who was governor at the time, and the state legislature initially authorized four casinos to open upstate, giving them several years to build their business before having to compete with any casinos in the New York City area.
