Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, Chairman of the New York State Committee on Racing and Wagering, said in a Tuesday statement that the state Gaming Commission should not license the proposed Lago Resort & Casino in Finger Lakes. The project was recommended by the state Gaming Facility Location Board last December.
Mike McKeon of strategic communications firm Mercury Public Affairs published the statement on behalf of Mr. Pretlow. The company is currently working with the federally recognized Oneida Nation. The tribe manages two gambling venues located not far from the proposed Lago site.
Mr. Pretlow said in his statement that the state gambling regulator must deny a license to Lago as its launch could result in more than 1,200 people, currently working at the tribal casinos, losing their jobs due to competition from the new facility. The official also noted that he understand the state wants to revitalize a region that desperately needs jobs and an economic boost. Yet, according to him, the construction of Lago Resort & Casino would not benefit the area and its residents.
Commenting on Mr. Pretlow’s statement, Steve Greenber, a spokesman for Lago, said that state lawmakers, together with the Governor and the Legislature, “set up a process” for granting casino licenses for Upstate New York and that Lago would keep on respecting that process despite the Oneida Nation’s attempt to block the establishment of the casino.
Although people with knowledge of the matter commented that Lago is not likely to be rejected a license, the state Gaming Commission and the Gaming Facility Location Board have proved to be somewhat flexible in their decisions regarding the recommendation of casino licenses.
Last year, the state siting board announced that it would recommend four casino projects for Upstate New York. However, it backed three such projects in December – Lago Resort & Casino in Finger Lakes, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, and Montreign Resort Casino in Catskills. Thus, the Southern Tier region was the only one left without a recommended gambling venue.
Leaders from the struggling area urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lobby for the reopening of the bidding process. This, in turn, resulted in the Gaming Commission reconsidering its decision and the location board recommending the proposed expansion of Tioga Downs Casino & Racing.
The New York gambling regulator said in a statement that it would continue reviewing the “suitability and the background” of the four preferred applicants and is on track to award the licenses by the end of 2015.
