New York Racetracks Lobby for Table Games
Nine racetracks in New York have banded together to form the new New York Gaming Association and one of its first tasks has been to begin the process of appealing to the state to let them off table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker.
Racetracks, Indian tribes, and real estate developers are all eager for the state of New York to pass a constitutional amendment to legalize privately run casinos, which are currently illegal except on Indian reservations.
Tracks in New York are currently limited to operating only video lottery terminals and claim they could potentially make billions — and generate significant revenue for the state — if allowed to offer table games and other gambling options.
The New York Gaming Association raised the issues at a state Senate meeting, led by lobbyist James Featherstonhaugh who also is a partner at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
“We have built an industry in this state, and with your support and your help, we can make this industry a jewel for New York state and a model of public-private partnerships across the country,” said Featherstonhaugh.
Randy King of the Shinnecock Indian Nation — which hopes to build a casino on Long Island — also was on hand, as well as a representative of the Stockbridge Munsee Community that wants to build a casino in the Catskills.
