New York Times Against More Casinos In StateNov. 5 Referendum On The Issue Fast Approaching |
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The Nov. 5 statewide referendum on Las Vegas-style commercial casinos coming to New York is fast approaching, and The New York Times has penned an editorial expressing its opposition to the gambling expansion plans in the Empire State.
In August, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a piece of legislation that would allow four such properties to be built in his state. The legislation is called “The Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act of 2013,” and it sped through the legislature in less than two months.
There would be a 25-percent tax rate on the full-scale casinos. The state already has tribal casinos, operating independently, and the bill would not allow new casinos to threaten the existing tribal businesses. New York also has a handful of racinos.
The New York Times wrote:
“Mr. Cuomo has not successfully made the case that casinos will provide long-term benefits. Putting a small casino at an isolated place like Tioga Downs, which is likely to apply for a casino license if the measure passes, is unlikely to cause much harm. But the same cannot be said of proposals to build casinos near Albany, in the Catskills and ultimately in New York City.”
Also recently, some protesters took to Albany to smash a slot machine, a symbolic act that they hoped would show that such gambling machines are unwanted by some in the state.
“For too many years, gaming revenue has left New York for our neighboring states,” Cuomo said after signing the bill in August. "Today, we are putting New York in a position to have those dollars spent here in our communities, which will benefit our local economies and tourism industries, as well as support education and property tax relief.”
Gambling expansion efforts have been underway in neighboring states for quite some time, most notably in Pennsylvania. Also, New Jersey will soon launch web gambling.
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