New York Lawmakers Pushing Bill to Expedite Downstate Casino Licenses

Sen. Joseph Addabbo (top left) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (top right) are leading the effort at the New York Capitol in Albany to overcome various delays slowing down the process of approving, building and ultimately opening casinos downstate. (Image: Hans Pennink/Associated Press/Alamy)

A pair of New York lawmakers are backing a bill that would set a firm deadline for awarding downstate casino licenses in an effort to speed up the long-running process.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) have proposed the law, which would require casino bids to be submitted by July 31 and for the New York State Gaming Commission to award licenses by March 31, 2025. 

Politicians Blast ‘Inefficiencies’ in Casino Licensing Process

Currently, Gaming Commission officials have said that they are aiming to award up to three downstate casino licenses to proposals in the New York City metro area sometime late next year. But some politicians and lawmakers are losing patience, saying that the state is losing money by delaying the opening of in person and NY online casinos from opening. 

“It’s taking too long. There are inefficiencies,” Addabbo said, via The New York Post. “We have to move. There are 5,000 jobs on hold – minimally.”

The Gaming Commission has said that a mix of land use issues and a long back-and-forth questioning process between potential developers and New York State has forced the current timetable. Pushing up the deadlines could benefits existing racino properties – such as Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, and Resorts World NYC – who can quickly get up and running in their facilities, simply expanding as necessary with little to no immediate construction required.

Other projects face more significant barriers to entry. For instance, Mets owner Steve Cohen has proposed a Metropolitan Park complex, including a casino and many other amenities, to be built in parking lot space adjacent to Citi Field. However, he’s currently in a battle with local lawmakers over the idea of alienating the parkland, a necessary step to develop on the area. 

However, Addabbo and Pretlow say that their bill would give all developers a fair shot at the downstate licenses. The legislation allows winning bidders up to two years to resolve legal issues or land-use problems.

Gaming Commission Says Process Remains on Schedule

Regardless of the details, Pretlow says it’s time for the state to act.

“I’ve been trying to get the process moving,” Pretlow told the Post. “It’s taking too long. We’re leaving $2 billion on the table. Why are we stringing this along? We’re spinning our wheels here.”

The NYS Gaming Commission might disagree with that assessment. The bidding process opened in January 2023, and while local and state politicians might be in a rush to see results, commission officials say the process is still on schedule. Gaming Commission Executive Director Robert Williams noted that the state government hasn’t anticipated any revenue from casinos until 2026, something his timetable is in line with.

Legislators have incentive to see the licenses awarded as soon as possible, however. Each winning bidder will have to pay a $500 million upfront fee to the state for their license. That’s on top of the taxes and payments each casino will make on its gaming revenue, with each bidder offering up their own payment scheme as a part of their proposal.