ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York gambling officials hope a casino license available in the state’s Southern Tier will attract significant interest – but so far, there is only one contender, and its proposal already has been rejected once.
A state board charged with picking locations for upstate casinos voted Tuesday to reopen the bidding process for a license in the region along the Pennsylvania border.
Last month, the board recommended casinos in the Catskills, Schenectady and the Finger Lakes. Two Southern Tier proposals were rejected and a fourth available license was withheld.
After local leaders objected, Gov. Andrew Cuomo requested a new bidding process for the fourth license, limited to the Southern Tier.
The Tioga Downs racino west of Binghamton plans to submit a revised bid. Location board chairman Kevin Law said he hopes to see new proposals, too.
“We have a second bite at the apple, and we’re going to earn it,” said state Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton. He said a casino for the struggling region “isn’t going to solve all of our problems … but it will give us a kick-start.”
SECOND TRY FOR TIOGA
Tioga Downs’ proposal for a casino didn’t pass muster with the location board, which also rejected an application from Traditions resort in Broome County. Traditions is now supporting Tioga’s bid.
The board cited Tioga’s financing proposal in its rejection. More details will come from the board’s formal report on its decision, which is expected to be released in coming weeks. Tioga owner Jeff Gural said he will amend his proposal in response. He suspects he lost points with the board because his proposal includes his existing racino.
“The fact that it’s already built penalizes me because it looks like I’m spending less,” he said.
The new proposal will feature more amenities: a second restaurant, a miniature golf course, batting cages and a climbing wall.
OTHER CONTENDERS?
No groups have stepped forward so far, but the possibility of new applications was raised by Cuomo in his letter seeking a new bidding process.
“As this would be the last license issued in New York, it may excite national competition by interested parties that submit even better applications than the first round,” Cuomo wrote.
While this would be Tioga’s second application, any new proposal would likely need more time to finalize its financing, secure local support and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
TIMELINE
The next step is the formal request for applications. Then, bidders will have time to complete and submit applications before the location board recommends its pick to the Gaming Commission, which will issue the license.
The location board is expected to discuss the process at its next meeting, which has not been scheduled.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York gambling officials hope a casino license available in the state’s Southern Tier will attract significant interest – but so far, there is only one contender, and its proposal already has been rejected once.
A state board charged with picking locations for upstate casinos voted Tuesday to reopen the bidding process for a license in the region along the Pennsylvania border.
Last month, the board recommended casinos in the Catskills, Schenectady and the Finger Lakes. Two Southern Tier proposals were rejected and a fourth available license was withheld.
After local leaders objected, Gov. Andrew Cuomo requested a new bidding process for the fourth license, limited to the Southern Tier.
The Tioga Downs racino west of Binghamton plans to submit a revised bid. Location board chairman Kevin Law said he hopes to see new proposals, too.
“We have a second bite at the apple, and we’re going to earn it,” said state Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton. He said a casino for the struggling region “isn’t going to solve all of our problems … but it will give us a kick-start.”
___
SECOND TRY FOR TIOGA
Tioga Downs’ proposal for a casino didn’t pass muster with the location board, which also rejected an application from Traditions resort in Broome County. Traditions is now supporting Tioga’s bid.
The board cited Tioga’s financing proposal in its rejection. More details will come from the board’s formal report on its decision, which is expected to be released in coming weeks. Tioga owner Jeff Gural said he will amend his proposal in response. He suspects he lost points with the board because his proposal includes his existing racino.
“The fact that it’s already built penalizes me because it looks like I’m spending less,” he said.
The new proposal will feature more amenities: a second restaurant, a miniature golf course, batting cages and a climbing wall.
___
OTHER CONTENDERS?
No groups have stepped forward so far, but the possibility of new applications was raised by Cuomo in his letter seeking a new bidding process.
“As this would be the last license issued in New York, it may excite national competition by interested parties that submit even better applications than the first round,” Cuomo wrote.
While this would be Tioga’s second application, any new proposal would likely need more time to finalize its financing, secure local support and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
___
TIMELINE
The next step is the formal request for applications. Then, bidders will have time to complete and submit applications before the location board recommends its pick to the Gaming Commission, which will issue the license.
The location board is expected to discuss the process at its next meeting, which has not been scheduled.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
