The New York state Senate yesterday approved, by a 45-16 vote, legislation that could lead to full casinos at Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, and Monticello Raceway
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The reality is distant: there currently is no “same as” bill in the Assembly; even if approved by both houses in this legislature, it will have to be approved a second time by a new legislature, an unknown quantity with the entire current legislature up for reelection this fall; and then it would face public approval in November of 2011 or 2012.
If it should make it that far, the measure would require approval by the four individual counties involved -- Saratoga, Sullivan, Tioga and Oneida -- all with populations of less than 500,000, a specification of the bill. As passed by the Senate, Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs would not be beneficiaries and would not receive full casino status.
New York state, meanwhile, has reached into the coffers of present racinos at the harness tracks, taking an additional 1% of revenues for education. The impact was highlighted by Empire City at Yonkers Raceway general manager Bob Galterio, who said New York state already takes two-thirds of that track’s gambling revenue.
The state’s answer to that was simple; they now will allow the track racinos to operate 20 hours a day rather than 16, a boon to the tracks according to the state, but also to the state itself.
(HTA)