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The already delayed New York State budget still isn’t finished, meaning the fate of the expedited downstate casino licenses will have to wait at least another day — if not longer.
Sen. Joe Addabbo confirmed via text Monday afternoon from Albany that there was nothing new on that front.
Addabbo told the New York Post earlier in the day:
“I’ve packed through Friday. I wish I packed a Bible ‘cause I think we need lots of prayers up here.”
Due to other unresolved issues like bail reform and public financing for the new Buffalo Bills’ stadium, an extension was reached through Thursday so that state employees can be paid past 4 p.m. Monday. All NY policymakers will have their pay withheld until the final budget is passed.
Last week, both Addabbo and his counterpart, Assemb. Gary Pretlow, expressed cautious optimism to PlayNY that the three downstate casino licenses would be included in this budget, thereby expedited from 2023 to 2022. However, their hopes of expanding online sports betting will likely have to wait until at least post-budget, with the session ending June 2.
Details that need to be ironed out on the downstate casino front include licensing fees, local control and community input, process and timeline deadline.
A popular iteration that has local support would be for existing video lottery terminals (VLTs) Resorts World NYC (Queens) and MGM Empire City (Yonkers) to become full-scale NY casinos.
