The approval by referendum of expanding gambling in the state of New York could lead to the development of as many as seven casino-resorts in the state.
The State Legislature has required that only four casino-resorts be allowed at first and that all must be located upstate, specifically in the Catskills, Southern Tier and Albany regions. The state’s gaming commission will administer the casino licenses.
The New York Times reported that developers have expressed the most interest in the Catskills, which in the mid-twentieth century was a major leisure destination for New Yorkers and colloquially called the Borscht Belt.
New York already has five casinos operated by Native American tribes, as well as the Resorts World Casino New York City, located in Jamaica.