Utilizing a directly opposite approach to the tactics employed by the current Ontario Government, it was announced last week that a constitutional amendment has been passed in New York which could see up to seven new casinos come to the state. Governor Andrew Cuomo has been quoted as saying that the casinos could be used as "regional revitalization tools."
According to a report by WNY News, in being overly transparent regarding the process, Gov. Cuomo said that the casinos "are economic-development generators, and they can be very helpful to creating jobs, and I think we can use them as regional revitalization tools."
In Ontario, instead of bolstering gaming operations within the province's rural racetracks --- which house the physical manifestation of the highly-successful slots-at-racetracks program --- the reigning Liberal Party has opted to decimate rural communities by announcing that it is pulling out of the program and taking scores of needed jobs with it. The Ontario Liberal Government, via a joint announcement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., announced earlier that it is bringing a full-scale casino to the Greater Toronto Area.
Meanwhile, in New York, Gov. Cuomo was quoted as saying that he is against introducing a full-blown casino in Manhattan, which is the opposite of the controversial Ontario approach.
Citing the casinos' ability to be a job-creator and economic-developer, Gov. Cuomo said that, to that extent, a full-blown casino is not needed in a major metropolitan centre like Manhattan. "I don't think we need one in Manhattan to do that," Gov. Cuomo was quoted as saying.
In regard to whether or not particular areas or operators have been pegged for the gaming expansion, Gov. Cuomo again exuded fairness to the process and the communities involved. "We haven't had any discussions about where, who, how -- so I don't think there should be any assumptions, whatsoever," he said.
Racino operators in New York State have publicly announced their desire to be part of the expanded gaming mix. New York Gaming Association President James Featherstonhaugh, head of the racetrack lobbying group, made it clear that the existing tracks in NYS would be the best locations to allow the expansion to thrive.
"Our view remains that the best path for the state would have been to allow table games at all nine of New York's existing racetrack casinos," Featherstonhaugh said. "Our members have proven track records of generating millions for the state and are among the largest employers in their regions."
The constitutional amendment passed in NYS is the first step in a lengthy process. The amendment would have to be approved again next year by the newly-elected Legislature. Then it would have to be approved by voters in November 2013.