Pictured is Jeff Gural, CEO & Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga and Vernon Downs, as he addresses guests at his casino in Nichols, N.Y. last year, and prior to the decision by the Gaming Facility Location Board’s selection of Lago Resort and Casino for the Southern Tier’s full gaming license. Gural affirmed at this conference, his commitment to gaining a full gaming license. (Photo by Wendy Post)
When the shovel went into the ground on River Road in Nichols, N.Y. in 2005, to christen the opening of Tioga Downs’ Casino, little did the owner, Jeff Gural, know that such a long process of building and expansion would be down the road for him. And now, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, a 2 p.m. meeting of the New York Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB), will gather in Manhattan in New York City with “Consideration of Selection of Applicant to Apply to the Gaming Commission for Gaming Facility License” on the agenda.
Tioga Downs, located in Nichols, N.Y., is the sole applicant for this additional license.
It has been a “rollercoaster” of a ride for Tioga Downs, and a gamble of sorts, to obtain this “Vegas-Style” license that would allow for table gaming, and allow Gural to upgrade his facility and transform it into a 195 million dollar destination within the Southern Tier.
But it hasn’t been an easy battle.
Last December, the GFLB did not select Tioga Downs to receive the full-gaming license within the Southern Tier. Instead, they selected Lago Resort & Casino, located near the thruway in Tyre, N.Y. and within a cluster of existing casinos to include Tioga Downs’ sister track, Vernon Downs.
Lago has had their own battles, with one of them being their environmental proximity to a protected wetland known as Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; and in August, Seneca County even went as far as to support the award of the additional license to Tioga Downs.
But it was Jeff Gural, after all, who pushed with the backing of all the political clout he could muster to put Proposition One, which would allow casino gaming, to be brought to the ballot for public vote in November of 2014 – a vote that passed within New York State.
So when Lago Resort & Casino was awarded the license, last year, the disappointment by the Tioga Downs team that built their initial application resounded throughout the Southern Tier.
It was shortly after, that Traditions at the Glen, another Southern Tier contender, withdrew from the process entirely and supported Tioga Downs. Governor Andrew Cuomo raised the stakes, by recommending an additional license be considered in the Southern Tier to the Gaming Commission and their designated GFLB.
On Wednesday, Jeff Gural will find out whether or not his application will be approved for consideration by New York State’s Gaming Commission.
Just month’s ago, Gural “upped the ante” with the submission of a revised application. A public comment hearing was held last month, and is leaving Gural optimistic about the outcome of the GFLB’s decision.
Wednesday’s meeting will be held at the Empire State Development Corporation’s Conference Room in New York City, and will be streamed live on the Gaming Commission’s website, gaming.ny.gov/.
