In the News: Gambling Lights Up the Big Apple

by Bodog Casino | Aug 16 2010

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What makes New York City so great? It's the city that has almost everything. Every culture, religion, sport and food thrive throughout the city -- that's why it never sleeps.

The one thing, surprisingly, that it's always been missing is casinos. You can do pretty much anything in the middle of Times Square but good luck finding a slot machine. The good news is there's a good chance change is coming; New York City might be finally getting the casino it deserves.

After years of bickering Gov. David A. Peterson and other leaders have agreed on a plan that could lead to having a casino in the big city. The deal that the Genting Group, Malaysia's leading co-operations, landed actually allows the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens to install 4,525 slot machines, turning it into a spot that has racehorse and slot betting.

However, this also gives the group the ability to open a gaming palace all on its own. This would likely kill much of Atlantic City's already struggling business.

"It is definitely going to have an impact on the entire Northeast,'' said Frank Catania, a former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. "It's getting to the point where the proliferation of gaming is cannibalizing everyplace else.''

Although getting a New York City casino is speculation at this point, keep in mind that with the Aqueduct Racetrack deal Genting accomplished in a couple of weeks what companies have been trying to pull off for years. If the group wants a casino in The Big Apple, they have the money and power to make it happen.

For now, however, the Aqueduct is the only place you can use a slot, but if they rebuild the racetrack the way they want, it could still take a chunk out of Atlantic City's business without a full-fledged casino.

They plan on transforming the old track into a "showcase" that has a three-story atrium, restaurants and two floors of video slots. There will also be an enclosed skybridge linking up with a nearby subway station and shuttles to pick up gamblers arriving at the nearby John F. Kennedy Airport.

Expect the 4,500-plus slots to arrive at the track within a year.