The proposal for turning Tioga Downs Casino & Racing in Nichols, New York into a fully-fledged casino will be heard by the state Gaming Facility Location Board at a September meeting. Representatives for the gambling venue will present their project before the regulator.
The scheduled presentation will take place on September 10 in New York City and only board members will be allowed to ask questions. However, community members will not be given the opportunity to pose their own questions. They will be able to do so at a special public hearing, which is to be held on September 18 at SUNY Broome in Binghamton. Board members will receive comments on the matter between 10 am and 2 pm.
Tioga Downs, owned by businessman Jeff Gural and his company American Racing and Entertainment, currently features video lottery terminals, which are quite similar to the traditional slot machines. In addition, the venue also offers gambling customers seasonal harness racing events.
Earlier this year, the New York Gaming Facility Location Board re-opened the application process for a fourth casino license in upstate New York. The Nichols-located gambling property was the only one to submit its proposal. However, board members have previously pointed out that the bidding process may not eventually result into a fourth license being awarded.
If Tioga Downs’ proposal is backed by the state Gaming Facility Location Board, the venue would be able to start offering table games and slot machines. Certain other upgrades are also to be made to the facility. The board is expected to submit its recommendation to the New York Gaming Commission by the end of 2015.
Last December, the New York Gaming Facility Location Board backed three casino proposals, with Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, Seneca County being the preferred candidate for a full-scale gambling venue in the Southern Tier region. Back then, the board also said that it would not award a fourth license for any of the competing regions.
Choosing Lago Resort & Casino over Tioga Downs unleashed waves of complaints from Mr. Gural, Nichols officials, and community members. They argued that they have been deprived of their chance to secure the struggling region with a major economic boost. Due to this, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recommended that the state gambling regulator may take a second look at the possibility of awarding a fourth casino license.
Urged by the governor and other officials, the Gaming Facility Location Board re-launched the bidding process for a casino in the Southern Tier region.
