New York Gaming Facility Location Board releases request for applications for up to three commercial casinos

In 2013, the New York State Constitution was amended to authorize up to seven commercial casinos in the state. Subsequently, the State sited four destination resort casinos in Upstate New York. In 2022, the enacted New York State Budget established a new siting process and criteria for the remaining three licenses. 

Revenue from new gaming facilities is expected to generate substancial fiscal benefit to New York's public schools, local governments, and problem gambling treatment services. The jobs created by these casinos must deliver livable wages to help families live, stay and prosper in New York. 

The Board unanimously determined that the minimum capital investment and license fee for Applicants seeking to build a commercial casino is 500 million dollars each.

By statute, a separate, appointed Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will review Applications. In addition, the successful completion of municipal zoning and land-use processes will ensure that only projects embraced by the community would be presented to the Board for consideration. Other important components of the Application may depend upon the undestanding of the potential competitive landscape with other Applicants, which may only be gauged after these processes have been completed. 

In recommending an Applicant for license, the Board will evaluate and determine which Applicant(s) proposes to best advance the below objectives: 

• Economic Activity & Business Development Factors (70 percent): capital investment; maximizing state and local revenues; providing the highest number of quality jobs; creating a gaming facility of the highest caliber with a variety of quality amenities.
• Local Impact Siting (10 percent): mitigating potential impacts on municipalities; full and diversified regional tourism; partnerships with live entertainment venues.
• Workfoce Enhancement (10 percent): workforce development plan; specific goals for the utilization of minorities, women and service-disabled veterans on construction jobs and an overall workforce diversity framework. It is expected that such goals meet or exceed New York State's 30 percent utilization goal of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise contracts; problem gambling prevention measures; sustainable development principles; a skilled and diverse workforce; domestically manufactured slot machines; organized labor agreements. 
• Diversity Framework (10 percent): workforce demographics; diversity in ownership and leadership; current and planned diversity efforts.