Casino Decision, But Not for Tioga Downs

Three  casino projects in New York are expected to know Monday, December 21 if they are to receive formal licenses from state regulators. The state's Gaming Commission is scheduled to vote on awarding the licenses in a meeting in New York City.

A casino location board recommended the projects a year ago. Since then, the state has conducted background checks of developers and reviewed the final details of the three projects.

Since the fourth casino proposal for Tioga Downs was not accepted for recommendation until October, the Commission has not completed its review of the plans, so it will not be included in Monday’s vote.

The three casinos are Montreign Resort Casino in the Catskills, Rivers Casino in Schenectady and Lago Resort and Casino in the Finger Lakes.

While some work has already started in areas like the Lago Resort, there is no guarantee the Commission will approve any or all of the license requests.

Full gaming licenses will allow the projects to formally finalize their financing and kick construction into high gear.

Developers have predicted they can get the casinos open within two years.

The owner of Tioga Downs, Jeff Gural, has also started construction on the expansion of his video slots and harness track in Nichols and has said, since some of the casino groundwork has been in place for years, he can get the Tioga County facility up and running in far less time.

The Commission is expected to make its license decision for Tioga Downs next year.