Hochul could FAST TRACK state approval for three new casinos within days, including in Manhattan

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appears poised to continue to splash the cash on big projects in the Empire State's budget, with the possibility of three new casino licenses - including one catering to the wealthy in the heart of Manhattan.

The governor and the leaders of the Democrat-controlled State Senate and Assembly are expected to hammer out a fast-tracked deal that could see a number of different bids for New York City-based gaming, including a Monaco-style casino for high rollers open atop Saks Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, according to The New York Times.

The deal would allow gaming licenses to be rushed through as part of the state's budget - due on Friday, April 1, with Hochul's fellow Democrats suggesting a $1 billion price tag for the permits.  

Currently, only three of the state's 25 casinos are 'downstate' - one in Queens, one in Yonkers and a third on Long Island.  

Betting companies have spent about $300,000 a month to try and bring the casinos to Manhattan, arguing that New York loses billions to neighboring states by not having the gambling dens in some of its ritziest areas. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul may hammer out a deal with legislative leaders that could see a number of different bids for New York City-based gaming, including a casino for high rollers open atop Saks Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan

The huge main store of fashion chain Saks Fifth Avenue is located next to St. Patrick's Cathedral

Resort World Casino is New York City's lone casino in Ozone Park, Queens

But not only do the corporations want movement on the issue: the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which endorsed Hochul's re-election bid, are also lobbying hard for the jobs those casinos would create for its nearly 10,000 unemployed members.

'These are jobs that pay $36 an hour, have free family health care and have a pension plan,' said union boss Richard Maroko. 'So they are in dire straits because many of them have been out of work for two years without any immediate prospect of comparable employment.' 

The union has given more than $880,000 in campaign contributions to Democrats in Albany since 2020.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also appears to be in favor of the plan, as his chief of staff Frank Carone recently met with Robert Goldstein, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands. 

Adams - who himself was spotted in Monaco last summer - wants at least two of the three licenses in his city rather than on Long Island, a spokesperson told The Times.  

MGM and Genting, the operators of the two racetrack and casino complexes in Yonkers and Queens, appear favorites to get those potential billion-dollar licenses. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears to want the gaming licenses to come to his city rather than Long Island

State Senator Liz Kreuger, an Upper East Side Democrat, said there are several bidders on the third license, including what she called 'a fancy Monaco-like casino on the top floor of Saks'

State Senator Liz Kreuger, an Upper East Side Democrat, said there are several bidders on the third license, and that she 'likes the storyline' of what she called 'a fancy Monaco-like casino on the top floor of Saks.' There aren't renderings for any such proposal yet. 

Kreuger, who previously opposed gaming, told The Times she felt a casino could work if it was targeting the wealthy, rather than working class Manhattanites. 

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Kreuger noted the several hurdles that would need to be cleared.  

'It is critical that any plan to site casinos in New York City must move through standard city land use approvals including [land use review] and zoning, and get support from the local government and Community Boards,' she said. 

'There may be support in some parts of the city for siting a casino; I'm not so sure that my district in Manhattan would be open to one.' 

Other Manhattan Dems, including Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, remain firmly in the 'no' column, seeing building just one casino in Manhattan as a slippery slope.

'I think a casino would have a harmful effect on the whole atmosphere in the area surrounding it,' Gottfried told The Times. 'I find it hard to believe that once there is one casino in Manhattan, there wouldn't be strong pressure to have more.' 

Empire City Casino in Yonkers is one of three downstate casinos in New York

If one of the ritzier bids were to go through, a casino would be located across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral

Some of the ideas put forth have included a 'Monaco-style' casino at Saks, across the street from the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral, as well as a Hard Rock casino in Times Square and a potential spot with a view of the East River, according to The New York Times. 

New York has laws on the books preventing liquor licenses from being granted within 500 feet of a church, though no similar gambling license law exists.  

At least one company, Bally's, has said that the challenges of building in Manhattan might prove too great and have suggested sites like the open land near Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, in Flushing, Queens.  

One of the main hurdles would be the state's assembly Democrats, which have not included the provision for the licenses in their state budget and would need to be negotiated by the governor. 

Hochul, who faces re-election in 2022, has already promised $850 million in public money to the NFL's Buffalo Bills for a new stadium.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hochul, Adams, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the hotel workers' union for comment.