New York Governor Andrew Cuomo isn’t interested in expediting downstate casinos.

“I am very skeptical about some casino deal put together by casino operators promising billions of dollars and everybody is happy,” Cuomo said. 

Prospective casino developers, including Las Vegas Sands, are reportedly willing to pay up to $500m for a licence and to pay some of the licensing fees for the four struggling upstate casinos, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported. 

State law allows three downstate casinos, but not before 2023 to give the upstate casinos time to ramp up.

In addition to LVS, likely casino applicants are MGM Resorts, which owns Empire City in Yonkers, and Genting, which operates Resorts World at Aqueduct Park in Queens. Both are currently limited to slots and e-tables.

Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report