Article Published on: October 10, 2024, 05:19h.
Last Updated on: October 10, 2024, 05:19h.
A day after news broke that there might be a provision in the 2025 budget to assist certain bidders for downstate casino licenses, including Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, New York Governor Kathy Hochul clarified that her budget will not contain any such measures.
According to reports, Hochul’s 2025 budget may include changes to the state’s Uniform Land-Use Reform Process (ULURP) to facilitate development on designated parkland, potentially benefiting Steve Cohen and Hard Rock. Hochul dismissed these rumors during a press briefing in Albany.
“We have to be very cautious in this situation. There are individuals who may try to manipulate the process for their own gain and spread falsehoods,” said Hochul. “I have no intention of including this in my budget, so I am unsure of the source.”
She also expressed uncertainty about the origin of the article and suggested that the anonymous sources cited may have connections to competitors of Cohen and Hard Rock.
Hochul Stays Clear of New York Casino Selection Process
While there have been criticisms of the process for awarding downstate casino licenses in New York, Governor Hochul emphasized that she is not directly involved in the decision-making process.
“I do not have a role in deciding which casinos will be selected. This is intentional. There is an independent entity responsible for making those decisions, and I will support them at the appropriate time,” stated the governor.
The entity referred to by Hochul is the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), which will ultimately award the three coveted gaming licenses for the New York City area after companies navigate local processes with the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (NYSGFLB).
While efforts have been made to depoliticize the casino licensing process, altering parkland designations involves legislative action from a member of the State Assembly and Senate. As of now, no State Senate member has proposed changes to the parkland status of Willets Point.
Hochul Firm on Not Supporting Cohen
Despite donations from Steve Cohen to Hochul’s campaign and other Democratic entities, the governor made it clear that she will not provide assistance to Cohen or any other bidder seeking a downstate casino license.
“It would be completely inappropriate and is not something I will consider or have considered,” Hochul assured reporters.