Spitzer Helps Casino Move Forward

For years the state of New York has been contemplating a casino in the Catskills, and on Monday that dream became a reality. Governor Eliot Spitzer agreed that the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe could finally proceed. He told them that they could build a casino at the Monticello Raceway.

The casino would bring gamblers not just from the area, but also from New York City, and would give the state hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The region has been needing an economic boost, so this benefits both them and the state on many levels. Not only does it bring in money for the area, but it also brings in jobs which are sorely needed.

The casino is expected to cost $600 million to build, and would give 3,000 residents jobs. It would be offering more than just slot machines – they have a plan to add places where comedians and bands, etc. could once again come and play their music as they have done in the past.

The state gets 20% of the slot machine revenue for the first two years, then 23% for the next two years, then 25% for every year after that. The tribe also agreed to abide by state laws as they pertain to state tax, labor, and health laws. The tribe has been trying for about 30 years to get this casino, so it was nice to see that everyone was finally agreeing on a way that they could move forward.

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