Tioga Downs Casino Decision is Near

Supporters of a full-service casino resort in the Southern Tier don’t have much longer to wait for New York State to make a decision.

The state Gaming Facility Location Board is meeting October 14 in New York City and is expected to decide if the revised proposal from Tioga Downs meets its standards for recommending the award of a casino license.

Jeff Gural, the Town of Nichols racino owner, had submitted a proposal last year that, along with a bid from Traditions at the Glen in Broome County, were rejected over a plan by the developers of the Lago Resort proposed for the Finger Lakes region.

After Governor Andrew Cuomo stepped in, the Gaming Board agreed to open bidding for the award of a fourth casino license in the state from an interest in what has been dubbed: “The Real Southern Tier.”

Gural responded to criticism pointing out what the Board says were short-comings in his first proposal and has gotten praise in hearings both from the public and Gural, himself, presenting before the Board.

The October 14 meeting is expected to take place at 2 p.m. at the Empire State Development Corporation in Manhattan.