The New York Gaming Facility Location Board (NYGFLB) approved and voted unanimously Tuesday to issue a Request for Applications (RFA) to solicit proposals for up to three commercial casinos in downstate New York.
Betting in New York is on its way to new heights.
The board also approved a $500 million minimum capital investment and license fee for applicants seeking to build a commercial casino.
By state law, a separate, appointed Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will review all applications.
The NYGFLB will not impose artificial deadlines, other than the due date for the first round of questions (Feb. 3) and the return date (30 days from the Board’s response to the second set of questions).
The news comes almost a year to the date that New York sports betting apps launched last Jan. 8.
“When mobile sports betting went live in New York nearly one year ago, the New York State Gaming Commission did an incredible job in outlining the rules, regulations and timeline for operators to provide New Yorkers with top-of-the-line products,” said New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., the Chair of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, in a statement released Wednesday morning. “And the benefits from that decision are now being felt across the state as New York has already taken in more than $500 million in tax revenue in just about one year.
“I am looking forward to a transparent, accurate and speedy process from the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, under the guidance of the Gaming Commission, as they unanimously voted to issue a Request for Applications (RFA) to solicit proposals for up to three commercial casinos in New York State.”
Addabbo continued.
“I have faith that the Location Board will thoroughly examine each RFA and make the best short- and long-term decision, based on their set of criteria,” he said. “The quicker the three licenses are approved, the quicker we can begin to realize the major benefits to the state, such as thousands of construction and post-construction jobs, billions in revenue from the licenses, an increase in problem gambling monies and programs, as well as billions more in educational funding when the winning casinos go live.”
New York Casino Background
In 2013, the state’s Constitution was amended to authorize up to seven commercial casinos in the state, as the state sited four destination resort casinos upstate.
Currently, New York has 11 casinos upstate, seven run by Native American tribes and four commercial sites. Those commercial casinos are: Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, del Lago Resort & Casino in Waterloo, Rivers Casino in Schenectady and Tioga Downs in Nichols.
Resorts World Hudson Valley (RWHV) is the state’s newest casino. having opened Dec. 28. in Newburgh.
Last year, the state’s enacted budget contained a new siting process and criteria for the remaining three licenses, which started the ball rolling on Tuesday.
In recommending an applicant for license, the NYGFLB will evaluate and determine which applicant(s) proposes to best advance the following objectives:
- Economic Activity & Business Development Factors (70%)
- Local Impact Siting (10%)
- Workforce Enhancement (10%)
- Diversity Framework (10%)
The NYGFLB will welcome any public comments and discussion during the process and the RFA will be posted on the Board’s website.
Follow the progress of the state’s choices for downstate casinos and much more on sports betting at EmpireStakes.com. The site also is your source for the best NY betting promos.
