Genting Americas unveiled its casino proposals before the New York Gaming Commission earlier this week. During its presentation, the company identified two possible locations for its casinos, including a $1.5 billion proposal in Tuxedo, Orange County and a smaller proposal in Montgomery, Orange County. Genting identified Sterling Forest in Tuxedo as its preferred location, citing the potential for more revenue and jobs created in that location.
“There’s a preference to build Sterling Forest because we feel that development will provide the greatest possible economic impact for the state of New York,” Genting Americas Deputy General Counsel Kevin Jones told the panel.
Genting also flexed its financial might during the hearing, promising to pay $450 million for the license fee, significantly more than the required $70 million license fee for that part of the state. In addition to the generous license-fee pledge, Genting also promised to create a flight system that that would take wealthy Asian gamblers to the site bringing them through private planes. It also presented a handful of proposals to address environmental concerns in the area, including turning wastewater into potable water, restoring wetlands and spending $30 million to help create an interchange on the Thruway to ease traffic. The company also guaranteed to pay its employees’ wages that are close to double the national average for casino workers.
New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board indicated that it could decide on which bids win by October, although it also said that it was not going to be held to any particular deadline.
As Genting waits for word in New York, it might have to turn its attention to the Bahamas where Resorts World Bimini is reportedly being ignored by tourists in favor of small hotels on the island.
A report from the Cayman News Service quoted Bimini dive operator and soon-to-be-inducted International Scuba Diving Hall of Famer Neal Watson saying “while the resort is beautiful, it hasn’t captured the Bimini vibe the way people expected.” Watson points out that the 343-room hotel on Bimini is just too big for the island, even described it as a “Super Walmart on Little Cayman” and locals and tourists aren’t really interested in gambling in a massive casino when they can enjoy most of their time enjoying the island’s world famous beaches.
