Tioga Downs’ Owner Jeff Gural addresses the media following a decision rendered by New York’s Gaming Site Selection Board last Wednesday in Albany. Lago Resort and Casino was recommended for the selection in the Southern Tier Region, which Tioga Downs is a part of, and was a contender for the license. Gural, during the brief interview, expressed his disappointment in not receiving the gaming license. (Photos by Wendy Post)
Stephen Donnelly, spokesperson for Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, along with the Walsh family, owners, react as Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, N.Y. is selected for a full gaming license by New York’s Gaming Site Selection Board last Wednesday. The announcement took place in Albany, N.Y.
On Tuesday, at 10 a.m., Traditions and Tioga Downs, who were vying along with Lago Resort and Casino for a full gaming license in the Southern Tier, are expected to make an announcement regarding their pursuit of a fourth gaming license.
The announcement is exclusive to media, but the Walsh family from Traditions, Jeff Gural of Tioga Downs, and other political leaders representing both Broome and Tioga County in New York are expected to be on hand for the announcement, which will be held at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y.
Last Wednesday, the Gaming Commission awarded Wilmorite Development out of Rochester, N.Y. permission to proceed with the gaming license and the build of Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, N.Y., which is located off the thruway and halfway between Rochester, N.Y. and Syracuse, N.Y.
Prior to the announcement, which was held in Albany, N.Y., the Gaming Site Selection Board had removed the selection of an award for a fourth license from the table.
Since that time, there has been much dissension by Traditions, as well as Tioga Downs; and on Friday State Senator Tom Libous (R-52) expressed his dissatisfaction that the “real” Southern Tier was excluded, and stated he would be reaching out to Governer Andrew Cuomo and New York’s Gaming Commission.
Also, since last week’s announcement, Syracuse.com reported that the Oneida Indian Nation announced they will open a $20 million casino in Chittenango in 2015, expanding its gaming empire as New York welcomes its first non-Indian casinos.
Oneida Indian officials stated, in the report, that they don’t need approvals from any governments to launch the Yellow Brick Road Casino, which will have 436 Vegas-style slot machines and a Bingo hall in Tops Chittenago Plaza on Route 5, 14 miles east of downtown Syracuse.
According to Buffalo, N.Y. reports, it was also stated that the build of Lago will draw approximately 30 percent of the business and revenue from Turning Stone Casino, located within the Indian Nation Territory, and about 20 percent from the Finger Lakes Casino located in Farmington, N.Y., and near Canandaigua Lake.
