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Will Video Slots Come to Aqueduct?

The state of New York is reportedly close to accepting a bid to establish video slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. Along with the Democratic majority of the Legislature, Governor David Paterson selected Delaware North Companies Gaming and Entertainment of Buffalo as the company to put the slot games in place, after a heated bidding war. But not so fast - Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and the conservative side of the Senate are withholding their approval until it can be confirmed that the proposal to put the high-tech one-armed bandits at the Aqueduct will bring in as many jobs and neighborhood improvements as were originally promised.

In the General Assembly’s decision to approve the slot machines at the Aqueduct, it was stated that the devices could roll as much as three hundred seventy million much-needed dollars into state coffers from their very first day of operation. That’s how much Delaware North is willing to shell out to gain the contract to build and run the casino gambling facility, that is planned to install forty-five hundred slots at the racetrack. Skelos’ office confirmed that the speaker “supports” Paterson’s choice, but wants to make sure that the “community concerns” are addressed to everyone’s satisfaction.

Although Delaware North offered the most money up front, Skelos pointed out that the two other competitors for the slot machine contract were offering more in the long run. Hard Rock Entertainment made a two hundred fifty million up-front offer, while the Capital Play group of Australia and New York City (which operates Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino) offered one hundred million up-front.

Back to October 2008 Archive.