New York State Casino Board Announces Locations

New York State's casino siting board has named three developers who now have the right to build casinos in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes region. The board recommended awarding a license to the Lago Resort, a $425 million casino and hotel developed by Rochester-based developer Wilmorite. In the Capital Region, the board selected Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor, located in Schenectady along the Mohawk River. In the Hudson Valley and Catskills region, the board chose Montreign Resort and Casino, a $1.1 billion resort proposed by Empire Resorts, in the town of Thompson, in Sullivan County.

After a state panel gave the green light to three new casinos in upstate New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo had THIS to say at a press conference.

The NYS Laborers’ Organizing Fund and the “All in for Jobs” Committee initiated an aggressive statewide campaign that utilized lawn signs, hard hat stickers, car magnets, billboards, internet banner ads, wearables and extensive radio ads. Additionally, over 53,000 robo-calls were made to our members from our Local Union Business Managers and from LiUNA General Secretary Treasurer and New England Regional Manager Armand E. Sabitoni and Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager Raymond M. Pocino.

This fall, the voters of New York State approved Proposition 1, which allows for the expansion of casino gaming in New York. This vote was crucial to our members, signatories and local unions as it represents approximately $5 billion worth of initial construction work.

Congratulations to NYSLOF and the “All in for Jobs” Committee on a job well done!