Local residents, elected officials and community leaders have a chance to weigh in on Tioga Downs’ plans to develop a casino resort in the region.

The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board is holding a public hearing on the racino’s application for a gaming license at the Baldwin Gym on the SUNY Broome Community College Campus off Upper Front Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While Tioga Downs is the only applicant, there is no guarantee the Gaming Board will grant a license to the Southern Tier.

Residents today have five minutes to make their statements to the board.  The racino representatives, who presented their proposal and answered the board’s questions earlier this month in New York City, are not allowed to address the board today.

Last year, Tioga Downs proposal was trumped by a development plan by the Lago Casino Resort in Tyre in the Finger Lakes region.  The recommendation that the Lago proposal get the green light for a Southern Tier license prompted very vocal protest from local government leaders, Tioga Downs and a competing proposal from Heritage at the Glen in the Town of Union, saying Tyre is not the real Southern Tier.  Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed and urged the board to accept bids for a fourth casino license.

There is no deadline for the board to make a decision.

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