New York governor proposes expansion of non-Indian gaming

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New York
New York governor proposes expansion of non-Indian gaming
Thursday, January 5, 2012

andrew cuomo

class iii

excusitive

genting

mohawk

revenue sharing

seneca

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) called for an expansion of non-Indian gaming in his second State of the State address on Wednesday.

Cuomo wants to amend the state constitution to authorize more gaming by non-Indian entities. He said the plan could generate an additional $1 billion in economic activity.

"We have long flirted and dallied with another potential economic engine — casino gaming — and when it comes to gaming, we have been in a state of denial," Cuomo said.

"It’s time we confronted reality," Cuomo said. "It’s not a question of whether we should have gaming in New York — the fact is we already do."

An expansion of non-Indian gaming would violate two existing Class III gaming compacts. The Seneca Nation and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe signed agreements that promise them exclusivity in their respective regions.

Both tribes have already accused the state of allowing an expansion of non-Indian gaming in violation of the compacts. The Seneca Nation alone has withheld $350 million as a result of the dispute.

Separately, Cuomo called for the state to develop the largest convention center in the U.S. at the site of a racino in Queens. He said the Genting Group, a Malaysian company that won a license to operate games at the Aqueduct racetrack, will finance the $4 billion facility.

Cuomo's full remarks about gaming are below:

We have long flirted and dallied with another potential economic engine — casino gaming — and when it comes to gaming, we have been in a state of denial.
It’s time we confronted reality.
It’s not a question of whether we should have gaming in New York — the fact is we already do." Native Americans have five casinos in New York and we have nine racinos at our racetracks. We don’t fully realize it, regulate it, or capitalize on it, but we have gaming. In fact, New York State now has 29,000 electronic gaming machines — more than Atlantic City, and more than any state in the Northeast or Midwest.
Our state is also surrounded by gaming. States and Canadian provinces just across our borders have legalized casino gaming. They get the tourism, the revenue, and the good jobs that belong here.
It’s estimated that over $1 billion of economic activity from gaming can be generated in our state. Therefore, let’s amend the Constitution so that we can do gaming right. And let’s take the first step this year.