Ultimate jackpot: Empire City Casino GM discusses what's at stake if it gets coveted gaming license

The future of New York's gambling sector could soon start to take shape, as the state Gaming Commission is expected to formally release applications for three full-scale gaming licenses downstate.It's a decision that could have a dramatic impact on the Yonkers economy if MGM receives one of the coveted licenses for Empire City Casino.Ed Domingo, the casino's general manager, sat down with Senior Investigative Reporter Tara Rosenblum to discuss what's a stake and what he's got planned for the 122-year-old Yonkers landmark.The Empire City Casino is rumored to be one of the leading contenders in the high stakes competition that already has interest from the world's most powerful casino operators, including Ceasars, Wynn and the Hard Rock, which are all expected to propose new casino sites across New York City.Empire City has a unique advantage. It is already operating thousands of slot machines - so it would be an expansion, not a project that has to be built from the ground up. That "speed to market" factor could prove pivotal.Should Empire City get a license, Domingo discussed possible plans to build a new Vegas-style, state-of-the-art sports book with a floor-to-ceiling viewing wall.Domingo also went into detail about the additional investment MGM is committing to the project should they get a license.He said that he hopes to bring in Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga for the first performances, if they receive the license.The timetable for the process is currently unclear, but should Lady Luck be in their corner, Empire City's video lottery terminals could be replaced with Las Vegas-style slots and live gaming tables that are considered to be the ultimate jackpot of the gaming industry.Catch more of the one-hour sit-down interview on Thursday night.