WXXI News – This November, voters will get a chance to decide whether to expand gambling in upstate New York. But because of a quirk in the election calendar, it’s likely that downstate voters will be the ones to make that decision.
Governor Cuomo and the legislature agreed in June to allow up to four new resort style gambling casinos upstate. Locations include the Catskills, Southern Tier and Capital- Saratoga Regions. Other areas of the state already have casino gambling run by Indian tribes.
But in order for the new casinos to be built, the state’s constitution has to be amended, and voters have to approve the change. They’ll get that chance this November.
Governor Cuomo, who pushed for the casinos, is for now taking a neutral stance on whether New Yorkers should agree with his plan.
“That’s going to be up to the people of the state,” Cuomo said. “Gaming is a controversial matter by and large.”
Polls find that the measure to build the four upstate casinos is narrowly supported by New Yorkers. A recent Siena College survey found overall 49% are for the idea, 42% are against it.
“It’s close,” said Siena poll spokesman Steve Greenberg.
