Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a invoice that might have pushed up a deadline for bids to open a on line casino in or round New York Metropolis.
“Changing the timeline …. would likely have the impact of helping certain bidders and hurting others,” Hochul mentioned in her veto message.
“I cannot support a bill that aims to change the rules in the middle of the process.”
The measure — handed by lawmakers in June — would have required the bidders to submit their proposals for evaluate in August of this 12 months, even when they hadn’t but obtained mandatory native zoning or different approvals.
Hochul didn’t take motion on the invoice at the same time as the brand new deadline handed, successfully a pocket veto of the invoice which got here because the state Gaming Fee is anticipated to approve as much as three downstate on line casino licenses by the tip of 2025.
Some business sources say the extra drawn-out timetable advantages bidders going through political resistance or ongoing zoning or land-use points.
On the identical time, sources mentioned the sooner timeline to submit proposals would doubtlessly harm Mets billionaire proprietor Steve Cohen’s plan to construct an $8 billion casino-entertainment advanced subsequent to CitiField in Queens or the Wynn/Associated Firms proposal to construct a $12 billion gaming advanced in Hudson Yards, amongst others.
In her veto message, Hochul mentioned the on line casino choice course of was agreed to with lawmakers as a part of the 2022 state finances.
“As part of the process, applicants are required to work with local governments so that their projects fall within the respective zoning laws of the municipalities,” she mentioned. “Potential applicants have been continuously working toward ensuring that their projects are compliant.”
State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Queens), who championed the invoice together with Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), referred to as out Hochul for accusing lawmakers of constructing modifications in the course of the prolonged proposal course of.
Hochul is below hearth for initiating a “pause” on a massively unpopular $15 toll to enter Midtown Manhattan over summer season, then resurrecting it at $9 solely days after this 12 months’s elections when fellow Democrats would not face it as a marketing campaign subject.
“The governor changed congestion pricing in the middle of the process,” mentioned Addabbo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering.
“I was trying to improve the process.”
He mentioned potential bidders with critical authorized or land use points ought to be weeded out sooner somewhat than drag out the method.
“If you can’t figure out the land use issues in two years maybe a casino shouldn’t be there,” Addabbo mentioned.
The state will get a minimal of $500 million from every bidder awarded a on line casino license, with proceeds going to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. However Addabbo estimated it might be $750 million per license, or $2.25 billion.
Addabbo famous that after licences are awarded it may take three years to construct new casinos. The exceptions are the slots parlors — Resorts World at Aqueduct raceway and MGM Empire Metropolis at Yonkers raceway. They might develop to supply desk video games inside months if awarded a full on line casino license.
Underneath the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board timeline, functions for on line casino bids are due June 27, 2025. Neighborhood Advisory Committees consisted of elected officers from the affected areas would then evaluate the bid or bids and vote on whether or not to approve or reject them.
The board would vote on which on line casino initiatives to advocate to the state Gaming Fee, which should then give last approval by 12 months’s finish.
