Governor’s Budget Proposal Paves Way for NY City Casinos

Kathy Hochul's maiden budget proposal as NY Governor includes plans for three new casinos.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul's budget proposal includes a plan to bring legal casino gambling to downstate New York. The proposal would allow the NY Gaming Facility Location Board to issue a Request for Applications to open three new casinos. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, chairman of the Standing Committee on Racing and Wagering, has backed the plan.

There are currently four commercially licensed casinos in New York State. Legislators believe that granting full casino licenses for NY City or the surrounding area would create much-needed revenue for the state. Resorts World is eyeing one of the full licenses. The company already has a casino footprint in the Catskills and at Aqueduct Racetrack.

New York launched four of the state's nine approved online sportsbooks on January 8. The first ten days of online betting saw 1.2 million accounts created and 878,000 unique players. According to Hochul’s budget proposal, New York took in $150m in online sport betting handle over the opening weekend.