NY Bill to Speed Up Downstate Casino Licenses Faces Tough Challenge in Limited Time

Legislation to expedite downstate New York casino licenses isn’t for show. But it’s probably also not for go.

In this sense, Joe Addabbo told PlayUSA that, despite his late introduction of S9673, he plans to push to get the bill done before the New York legislature adjourns June 6.

"I hope it’s realistic. This is not for show. I don’t want it to be for show. Some of my colleagues have asked why we haven’t realized at least the licensing fees. Hopefully, we can do this. The gaming commission could hold onto these licenses for years and that would be OK because there’s no timeline. So let’s give them a timeline.”

Addabbo’s bill provides the New York State Gaming Commission with a March 31 deadline to award up to three casino licenses in and around New York City. March 31 marks the end of the state’s fiscal year.

Legislators should be mad at downstate casino licensing delays

In 2022, legislators and Gov. Kathy Hochul included in the state budget language to expedite downstate casino licenses, lifting a 2023 moratorium a year early.

However, the New York State Gaming Commission has indicated it might not award the licenses until the end of 2025 or later.

"It’s just not consistent with the intent of the legislature,” Addabbo said. "When we voted to expedite this by one year, no one in their wildest dreams thought we would be waiting another three, four, five years. These three licenses have been sitting on a shelf, collecting dust, not creating construction jobs and billions of revenue. It’s wrong and there’s no rational reason why.”

Addabbo said he introduced the bill now because he was told the gaming commission would begin the license application process by the end of last year. Then he heard it would happen in January, then the first quarter.

When the gaming commission warned of a later time frame last month, Addabbo felt the need to take legislative action. The bill requires the commission to begin taking applications by July 31.

The NYSGC is in a place where it could begin taking applications at any time. It has been waiting for prospective bidders to work out complicated land-use zoning issues and environmental studies.

Addabbo said he had not discussed the bill with the New York State Gaming Commission.