Caesars Entertainment‘s sudden romance with New York State is getting the company some grief, although not from the usual defenders of Atlantic City. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D) is among those who want to put a casino at the Meadowlands and racinos at the Garden State’s horse tracks. Caesars has understandably opposed those moves, provoking Caputo to lash out at its New York state of mind. “Caesars has been a major roadblock for the state over the past few years. They are our main opposition to growing the gaming industry in the state and have not supported any opportunity to increase gaming revenue if it meant earning it outside of Atlantic City,” Caputo growled. “For Caesars to impede the progress we could have made in New Jersey, then go to New York to build is plain hypocrisy. This new move to build a casino resort in New York adds insult to injury.”
The Empire State certainly got what it bargained for an then some, inundated with 22 applications. They break down as follows …
CATSKILLS REGION
Caesars Entertainment (Harriman)
Genting Group (Tuxedo)
Saratoga Casino & Raceway (Newburgh)
Cordish Gaming/Penn National Gaming (South Blooming Grove)
Greenetrack
Foxwoods Resort Casino/Muss Development (Liberty)
Mohegan Sun (Grossinger’s)
Empire Resorts (Monticello Casino & Raceway)
Nevele Investors
Trading Cove New York (“a partnership between the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and hotel and casino developer Len Wolman“)
TBA
Rolling Hills Entertainment
Och-Ziff Real Estate
Hudson Valley Gaming
Clairvest
SOUTHERN TIER
Tioga Downs Racetrack
Traditions at the Glen Resort & Conference Center
Wilmorite Inc.
CAPITAL REGION
Capital Region Gaming (Albany)
Saratoga Casino & Raceway (East Greenbush)
Howe Caverns
Pinnacle Entertainment (Rensselaer County)
Penn National Gaming
If the licenses are awarded proportionally, the Catskills are a cinch to get two, as opposed to one each for the other regions. Penn spokesman Eric Schippers pooh-poohed worries about Orange County negating consumer interest in Sullivan or Ulster counties, saying the latter would attract weekenders, while Penn’s project would attract day-trippers. The lack of interest in the Southern Tier might also be construed as an absence of demand, while the heavy action is centered around Orange County and Albany.
Boys will be boys. That Steve Wynn–George Clooney feud continues to generate more heat than light, although it reflects slightly worse on Wynn’s etiquette. When a man says, “Your friend is an asshole,” are you supposed to just sit there and take it? This is the consequence of always being surrounded by yes-men. In normal life, Wynn might get his ticket punched for that kind of loose talk.
