The Casino Gaming Circus that Never Ends

by: Bill Liblick

Sullivan County has been host to the best circus act in the world when it comes to casino gaming. Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey could not have done it any better.

As one of the biggest proponents in bringing the industry here as a means of revitalizing our region, I am getting disgusted and tired with the topic.

Suddenly after Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne did what everyone expected him to do in denying Indian casinos for Sullivan County, those with a lot to lose are looking elsewhere. Who can blame them? There must be an exit strategy in any business venture.

All of our eggs should not have been placed in one basket. There should have been and still should be a campaign to get our state legislature to approve legalized casino gaming for Sullivan County. For some reason that issue has been ignored for years, because people like Donald Trump were so influential in preventing the State Senate and Assembly from even considering its passage.

On paper the proposal to build “Entertainment City” on the site of the former Concord Hotel sounds spectacular, a natural marriage for all concerned, and a great concept. It seems feasible even though it is by no means a casino.

Obviously the plan to move the racino and raceway to the Concord site will provide a means for the developers to re-coop their investments, prevent huge losses, and obtain tax breaks and other incentives to construct the project.

Sullivan County on the other hand might not initially achieve such grand rewards. Gone will be the impact fees an Indian Casino would have brought, and employment opportunities.

The hypocrisy in all this is now Trump wants to get involved.

Even more disturbing is the Mohawks reaction to all this. They say they have walked away from their desire to construct a casino because of the Concord deal. They are now in arbitration with Empire Resorts.

There is no reason for them to depart. The raceway and racino was never inclusive of their project. There were even concerns that once a casino opened Monticello Gaming would have been shut down.

Empire Resorts needs to diversify to protect their shareholders. That does not mean they do not want to continue the fight to obtain Federal authorization for a full-fledged Indian casino.

In all probability the Concord endeavor is the only hope we have at present for economic revitalization, unless the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe somehow gets their casino approved.

If the State Board of Wagering consents to moving the track, horsemen must be protected. They must be guaranteed purses and stables. Developers should also explore including thoroughbred racing into the mix. The venue can be similar to Woodbine in Canada, the only racetrack in North America that offers both standardbred and thoroughbred racing on the same day.

The state must not grant any approvals or financial assistance until there is a strategy for the current 17B location, if Indian casino prospects are totally ditched. It cannot become another eyesore like Apollo Mall.

Developer Louis Cappelli has had great success in helping to turn New Rochelle around with his New Roc City, so he might realistically do the same for us.

Empire Resorts CEO David Hanlon is a seasoned gaming professional. He understands the industry well, and has the vision needed to turn the Concord project into a first class tourist destination.

Entertainment City indeed sounds breathtaking, but as Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini puts it best, “seeing is believing.”

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