ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos confirmed a proposal to bring video slot machines to Long Island as part of negotiations to expand casinos.
After a closed door meeting Tuesday with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders, Skelos said the discussion included video slot machines run by off-track betting agencies in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Cuomo is pushing just three, full-service, Las Vegas style casinos, all for upstate, to create jobs.
But Skelos says possible locations for smaller video slot casinos include two sites on Long Island or at Belmont race track.
The Associated Press reported last week that the proposal for 2,000 machines was part of casino talks.
A Cuomo spokesman had denied that.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who opposes casinos near New York City, denied the proposal was discussed.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
