New York City’s gambling regulator on Monday appointed an officer to oversee the placement of casinos in the New York metropolitan area as the state seeks to turn commercial gambling halls into a lucrative market outside the upstate.
The Gambling Commission has appointed former New York City Housing Commissioner Vicky Bean, New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Quenya Abloh, and former Hofstra University president Stuart Rabinovich.
The authorities will solicit proposals for licenses to open and operate up to three casinos in the region. Licenses are expected to be issued by 2023.
New York State is expanding gambling as part of a state budget accord earlier this year, removing exclusivity clauses for upstate casinos. Today, in addition to casinos operated by Native American tribes, there are four of his commercial casinos north of the New York area.
Casino developers and gamblers interested in gambling have long viewed New York as a major market due to its potential to attract tourist money.
More broadly, in recent years the state has expanded the scope of gambling to include casino bookmakers and mobile gaming apps.
Some industry watchers fear that the Northeast’s gaming market has become too saturated, making it difficult for casinos to operate in a highly competitive environment.