Lawmakers make last-ditch effort in Albany

ALBANY – An effort to move the gambling operations that shuttered in April at Monticello Raceway to a new betting facility in Woodbury, Orange County, is picking up key support in the state Legislature with just days to go before the legislative session ends.

A bill introduced this week would allow the casino owners of Resorts World Catskills to open a new video-lottery facility near the Woodbury Common outlet center.

The proposal was quietly floated earlier this year by Empire Resorts, which owns the struggling Sullivan County casino, after it shuttered the gaming operations at Monticello Raceway and combined it with Resorts World.

Now the idea has picked up support from the local delegation in the state Senate and from Assembly Racing Committee chairman Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, who said earlier this year that Empire Resorts approached him with the plan.

"It does mean a lot to them to preserving jobs at one site, increasing jobs at another and in turn increasing revenue and education funding," said Senate Racing Committee chairman Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens.

"If we have that opportunity, I think we should take it."

What could happen in Orange County?

The Casino at Monticello Raceway is closing

The bill states the new gambling hall would "maintain the state video lottery gaming revenue previously coming from video lottery gaming operations Monticello racetrack by authorizing a video lottery gaming facility to be operated in Orange County by the owner of Monticello racetrack."

The bill would also require it to be at least 30 miles from Empire City Casino and Raceway in Yonkers and also provide payments to Yonkers Raceway because of its relative proximity to the Westchester County track.

The bill would seem to address many concerns in the region about the future of horse racing and Resorts World Catskills, which has struggled to meet revenue projections.

Resorts World closed its VLT parlor at Monticello Raceway in April, but has kept open the harness track at Monticello Raceway.

Without the VLT revenue, Pretlow and local horsemen have expressed worry that Resorts World might ultimately try to close the track. The casino said it doesn't plan to close the track.

Why is this being considered?

A new VLT parlor near Woodbury Common, the popular destination, could be a boon for Resorts World and Monticello Raceway, which would share in the profits from the new facility — as would the state.

The bill notes the track and casino are Sullivan County's largest employer with more than 1,600 employees.

"To provide sustainability to the business, Empire Resorts seeks statutory authorization to relocate its current VLT allocation to a location with a more stable revenue base," the bill states.

It added that if the bill becomes law, "this will provide the state with incremental video lottery gaming revenue and enhanced racing support payments and long-term continuation of harness racing at Monticello racetrack."

It is unclear whether the bill has the support within the Legislature to get approved before session is set to end Wednesday.

By Joseph Spector

Reprinted with permission of Poughkeepsie Journal