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ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo laid out his vision for bringing Las Vegas-style casinos to the state, but he isn’t eyeing the Big Apple for any of them for at least five years.
“A New York City franchise would be eating at the buffet table of an upstate casino,” Cuomo said yesterday. “The premise of this plan is let’s use it because it’s one of the biggest assets we can bring to upstate New York. It’s driven by the absence of a casino in New York City.”
Cuomo wants to create six gambling regions, with one resort located in each. He plans to start with a trial run of three casinos. But he’s also gambling his proposal will put new pressure on Indian tribes who already operate casinos and have withheld more than $500 million in payments to the state.
Under contracts with the state, the tribes are to share some of their revenue in exchange for exclusivity. But the state and the tribes have been at an impasse over the terms.
If the tribes don’t settle with the state, Cuomo said he’ll be free to locate a new casino on their turf. Talks with the Senecas, Mohawks and Oneidas have stalled as Cuomo contemplates where to place the casinos.
“We respect the governor’s comments today on the complexities of the issues, and we are engaged in a constructive dialogue with his administration,” Oneida Nation spokesman Ray Halbritter said.
Yesterday, Cuomo said a special committee will be in charge of selecting sites and considering bids. A percent of revenue from the non-Indian casinos will go to the state to fund education statewide, though Cuomo said the amount would be part of the bid to get a casino approved.
The Legislature must still pass a bill to change the state constitution to allow for non-Indian casinos. The Legislature approved a referendum last year but must do so a second time in a new session under state law.
Cuomo said he will push for a November ballot referendum, even after expressing concern that the lack of a statewide election could skew the turnout, with scores of city voters casting mayoral ballots. Upstate voters have more to gain from legalizing casinos than voters in New York City, which won’t benefit from the plan.
“We need jobs in upstate New York and economic activity in upstate New York like we need oxygen. So putting it off a year, I understand why it’s politically beneficial from a voter turnout. My opinion is it’s not worth the cost of waiting a year,” Cuomo said.
Under Cuomo’s proposal, no casinos would be located in New York City for at least five years to give upstate operations a better chance to thrive.