The nineteen miles east, Ellenville, the owners of the Nevele Hotel long sleep also want to build a casino-resort $ 450 million, with a golf course, a water park and new hotel. And Empire Resorts, which has a slot parlor and Monticello Raceway machine wants to move to the site of another former hotel borscht belt, the Concord, where he would also build a casino-resort.All three levels would require a change in the state constitution to allow casino gambling, which is now limited to Indian lands.Developers have lobbied since 1970 for the establishment of casinos as a way to boost the economy of the Catskills resort. But the latest wave of interest is motivated by the efforts of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to legalize casino gambling on a large scale in the state.The answer to the last frenzy of proposals, however, was cautious, even in the Catskills, where there is political support for the casino and the jobs and revenue they could bring. Residents, however, have become increasingly skeptical about whether the game projects will progress further than those that failed to materialize before."Business is excited, but the average Joe could give two damns," said Tony Cellini, a supporter of the casino and the supervisor of the city's long-standing Thompson, which was the Concord. "People here are sick and tired of have this golden carrot dangled in front of them. "The plan of Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, called for a maximum of seven casino-resort. He wants to start with three casinos outside the city, including one in the Catskills region, to lift the weak global economy. It does not allow casinos downState for five years. The plan does not allow New York, the place of the most popular gaming companies.Last year, the Legislature approved a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling. To enter into force, the amendment must pass the legislature again this month and a referendum on the November election. The passage is far from assured, as lawmakers debate the details, including the locations and tax rates.The state now has five Indian casinos and electronic slot machine parlors in new racetracks.
On Tuesday, the New York Gaming Association, which represents salons in, said he opposed the casino project the governor, saying he would salons out of business and generate much less money for education. The rooms in which pay a tax rate of more than 60 percent of net income under, generate nearly $ 1 billion per year for education. Mr. Cuomo has proposed a tax rate of 25 percent on full-scale casinos.State Senator John J. Bonacic, a Republican who represents the Catskills, pleads for a casino in the region."I'm focused on the Catskills, this is where we get the best return for taxpayers and create more jobs," said Bonacic.In the early 2000s, there were proposals for Indian casinos in the Catskills. Developers bought tracts of land throughout the county of Sullivan. But ultimately little happened. Proponents say they are now closer than ever to build at least one casino in the Catskills.
The Mashantucket Pequot also say the Catskills are ideal."We believe this is an ideal location for not only gambling activities, but to a destination station on a large scale, this is what we would try to do," said Scott Butera, CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino.With revenue down at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut, and greater competition on the road in Massachusetts, the Mashantucket Pequot decided to open a new place to increase revenue.Their proposed casino would be on land owned by the family of the real estate Muss of the City of New York, which took control of the property in the late 1980s.But developers are also fishing for a casino at the Nevele. Empire Resorts and local approvals obtained recently to develop a resort and lounge slot on the Concord site. Empire Resorts must build a new racetrack to retain the rights to the slots.While casino gambling fails to obtain approval, Empire Resorts said it will build the project.
