I’ve written a bit about casino operators competing to get one of three downstate New York licenses.
Considering that two of them will likely go to the very successful racinos already in operation – via MGM Resorts and Resorts World – that realistically leaves only one up for grabs with multiple entities battling for the gambling license that promises to be a license to print money.
Who Will Win The License?
Whenever I wrote about or talked about legal casino gambling coming to New York, I always put Wynn Resorts in as the front runner. Part of that was personal preference: It’s tough to beat a Wynn casino for comfort, elegance, and amenities.
And part of it was because I thought Wynn stood the best chance of getting licensed. My bias is such that one of the bidders expressed annoyance at me for expressing the opinion in print.
And when Wynn dropped its bid for a New York City casino, the guy sent me a tersely worded text: “You must be in shambles.”
He was intentionally overstating, gloating, and reminding me of his pique. And while I am not in shambles, I am bummed.
Being able to nip over to the West Side neighborhood known as Hudson Yards for blackjack and a steak would have been a lot of fun – and plenty convenient.
While a Midtown Manhattan casino run by Caesars with Jay-Z on board could have its moments, going to what promised to be a posher spot in a less congested, arguably cooler, neighborhood would have been more my jam.
Now, with at least one expert predicting that there will not be a casino in Manhattan, it looks like we’ll be heading out to Queens for former hedge-fund boss Steve Cohen’s CitiField-adjacent den.
It’s fine. Nobody minds traveling out that way for a Mets game; so, we’ll live with the outer borough trek for a night of gambling. And I’m sure that Cohen will do a top-notch job when it comes to building a swanky place in which to put paychecks into action.
New York Poker Players Need Closer Options
One group for whom legal gambling here can’t blast off soon enough is the elite clutch of New York City’s winning poker players.
Assuming that there will be three new cardrooms within proximity of one another, there is the hope for a fresh pool of fish.
Peter Alson, author of a terrific poker novel called The Only Way to Play It, ranks among the Big Apple’s poker sharps. As he told me a while back, “It will be a gold rush for skilled players. There will be a lot of bad players wanting to try their luck at poker. It will be great for one year. That is the lifespan for sweet pickings.”
As I write this, I’m getting ready to head down to Atlantic City for a long weekend. The poker rooms’ sweet pickings there are long gone. But, currently, it’s the most convenient place for a New Yorker who wants to satisfy his gambling jones without going online.
I’ll take it. The saltwater air and superior cheese steaks don’t hurt, but I’m ready to ride a subway to my new favorite casino in New York – whoever gets chosen to own the joint.
Michael Kaplan is a journalist based in New York City. He is the author of six books including The Advantage Players, and has worked for publications that include Wired, GQ and the New York Post. He has written extensively on technology, gambling, and business — with a particular interest in spots where all three intersect. His article on Kelly “Baccarat Machine” Sun and Phil Ivey is currently in development as a feature film.
Photo – Shutterstock
