The state of New York will this week award its first commercial casino licenses, according to a report Sunday from Bloomberg.
Companies in contention include: Caesars Entertainment, Genting, Empire Resorts, Penn National Gaming, Churchill Downs and Full House Resorts.
A total of 16 firms are vying for as many as four licenses, the report said.
Caesars and Genting are looking at properties one hour away from New York City. Genting Group already operates the Resorts World slot parlor at the Aqueduct track in Queens.
Winners should be picked by the Gaming Facility Location Board on Dec. 17.
These will be the first Las Vegas-style non-tribal casinos to hit New York state. The Empire State currently has well over a dozen racinos (which have slots) and tribal casinos.
New York is expecting an additional $340 million in tax revenue from the new casinos.
The state is currently home to seven poker rooms, with the largest being the 32-table room at Turning Stone Casino, which is located upstate in Verona.
New York legalized commercial gambling in 2001 and the commercial casinos in 2012.
