Genting Wants to Open Full Casino in New York

Could Aqueduct go from racetrack to racino to casino? Genting hopes so.

New York City’s Aqueduct Racetrack was almost closed before the state’s government decided to turn it into a “racino,” a racetrack hosting thousands of slot machines to keep the horse races going. Now the company that submitted the winning bid is looking forward to a future that includes a full casino, even though current New York law doesn’t allow for such establishments.

Genting, the Malaysian gaming company contracted to operate the Aqueduct racino, made a presentation yesterday to the New York Senate about its plans for expanding the operation into a full-fledged casino offering non-video gaming options, including poker. “If we have a more full casino, we become more attractive in pulling people in,” Genting spokesman Jay Walker told the state’s upper legislative chamber. ”It will significantly improve the success overall with table games.”

Current New York law doesn’t allow for full casinos in the state, and changing the law via constitutional amendment would be a difficult process. But at least one New York State Senator says that it’s only a matter of time before a full casino opens in New York because of the number of neighboring states that have legalized gambling. Connecticut and New Jersey have traditionally pulled a lot of their gambling revenue from New York, and Pennsylvania’s new gambling options might draw even more New Yorkers.

The new plans have the backing of the state’s governor, David Paterson, and the state Lottery Division.