Tioga Downs Casino Now Open in New York State
December 6, 2016 1:20 pmOn Friday, December 2nd, Tioga Downs in Nichols became the first of four new casino developments to open for business in upstate New York. Its opening comes despite the casino being the last to receive a state license, although in 2017 the three other venues are also expected to follow suit, including Montreign Resort Casino in Sullivan County; Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady; and del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County.
Tioga Downs is located west of Binghamton, and is situated just 95 miles from the Pennsylvania border. As well as already offering a racino, the venue’s new casino facility will include 33 table games and 944 slot machines. Following its opening, owner Jeffrey Gural, who also own the Vernon Downs racino in central New York and New Jersey’s Meadowlands Racetrack, stated:
“People have been desiring to have table games in this area for a long time. People have been longing to play and haven’t been able to. It brings different people here. Young people like the table games and I would have gradually gone broke, I think, if you’re just going to rely on the older people.”
In addition to an extra $32 million in annual revenues being generated for the state government, Tioga Downs is also expected to create jobs for 800 full-time employees, and $11.6 million in wages during its first year of operation. The casino has already contracted more than 200 of those employees, and is encouraging other people to come forward with their applications. Moreover, Tioga Downs has committed to expanding its facilities further in the future, including the addition of a hotel, with construction on the six-story building having been got underway back in September. Other planned amenities includes a spa, more restaurants, and a convention and entertainment center.
New York has previously indicated that it may consider pursuing online gambling legislation once all the state’s new casino facilities are open.