By R.J. DeLuke
Voters across the state on Nov. 5 approved
an amendment to the New York
Constitution that would allow the development
of seven new resort-style casinos,
starting with four upstate. One is planed
for the Capital Region, which many believe
could end up in Saratoga Springs.
While 57 percent of the voters approved the proposition, most people
voted “no” in Washington, Warren and
Saratoga counties. Negative votes on
the issue were 53.7 percent in Saratoga
County, 51 percent in Warren County, 50.3
percent in Washington County. Still, the
vote tallies will have little to do with the
siting of a casino.
Many, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo,
view the casino business as a boon to the
economy, bringing in money and jobs that
are currently going to other regions with
casinos.
There are some officials in the Lake George-Glens Falls region who have expressed interest in the past on landing such a project. But in May, the state settled a dispute with the St. Regis Mohawk Nation, which runs the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Franklin County. Under the agreement, the state will not allow one of its casinos to be located in the eightcounty Mohawk exclusion zone, which includes Warren, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Michael Consuelo, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in the casino discussion prior to that agreement, “I believe that both members of the Chamber and residents alike had very mixed feelings about the possibility of a casino being located in Warren County.”
He cited the “very real possibility” of a casino in Saratoga, some 20 miles to the south, and sees an economic benefit if that eventually happens.
Consuelo said that when Saratoga Race Course is running, “some racing enthusiasts will stay in the Lake George region and make their short journey to Saratoga for a day of races. They seem to get the best of both worlds, the excitement of gambling and the beauty of the Southern Adirondacks.”
“I do not necessarily buy into the concept that once in a casino, gamblers will not go anywhere else. The Capital District- Saratoga region along with Warren and Washington counties has too much going on without going unnoticed. We will just have to make sure that we market ourselves with this mind.”
“The passage of Proposal One is a big win for local governments, school districts, and taxpayers across New York state,” said Cuomo when vote results came in. “This vote will keep hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year in neighboring states right here in New York, while increasing revenue for local schools, lowering property tax taxes, and bringing proper regulation to the industry. ”
The governor said going forward with casinos “will further pave the way for the creation of new jobs, construction, and increased tourism in communities across the state.”
Peter Aust, president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, said there is the potential of spin-off economic benefits for Warren and Washington counties because of the proximity to Saratoga. He cautioned casinos can be somewhat self-contained– people staying in an on-site hotel and eating on-site meals. But it would also create a destination “people all over the area and all over New York state would come to.”
“Perhaps they would extend their stay in the Lake George region, or stay here and travel down to the casino,” he said. Todd Garofano, president Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, said Saratoga isn’t guaranteed to be a casino site, but should it be chosen “whether it be an expansion at the Saratoga Casino & Raceway, which seems to be the most logical choice, or a new facility, we will view it as another asset or attraction that we can market and build upon our offering as a year-round global destination.”
Under a plan passed by the state Legislature, the first four casinos will be slated for three parts of the state — the Catskills, Southern Tier and Capital Region. The areas will have gambling exclusivity for seven years.
In May, Saratoga Casino & Raceway officials announced a $30 million project that was to be started regardless of the November vote. It includes a 120-room hotel with guest spa, indoor pool and lobby bar, a 24,000 square-foot, multi-purpose event center, and a signature fine dining restaurant. If it becomes a full-scale casino, it would expand further with games such as poker, roulette, blackjack and craps that are staffed by live dealers.
According to the constitutional amendment, the Gaming Commission will appoint a five-member Location Board. The board has 90 days to issue a request for applications from potential casino operators. The board will decide which cities within each region actually get a casino.
“Someone once said, ‘the casino train is heading our way, we better get on it,” added Consuelo. “We may have missed it for a brief time but, once again, we may have the opportunity to board.”