ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — After a yearlong wait, three upstate casino projects are poised to receive formal licenses from New York state regulators.

The state's Gaming Commission is scheduled to vote on awarding the licenses Monday in New York City.

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

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

Some work has already started, but licenses will allow the projects to move forward with construction and financing.

The facilities plan to open within two years.

A fourth casino picked for the Southern Tier this fall is expected to receive a license next year.

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