N.Y. governor likely to approve $600M casino

VICTOR WHITMAN

Times Herald-Record

February 06, 2007

MONTICELLO, N.Y. — New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is close to approving a $600-million Monticello casino, his spokeswoman said.

"We are optimistic that there will be something in a number of days," she said of the governor taking a historic step of approving the St. Regis Mohawk casino at Monticello Gaming and Raceway.

In December, authorities gave environmental approval. Spitzer must concur by letter with those findings for the Mohawks and their partner, Empire Resorts, to go forward.

If Spitzer signs, it would be a hurdle that no other Catskill casino has cleared, paving the way for final approval by the Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne.

Only three times before have governors allowed state land to be taken into trust for an off-reservation casino — none of them were in New York."

There are negotiations going on and, if I were to characterize them, I would say we are optimistic," the governor's spokeswoman said."

I can tell you that the governor believes that casinos can play a role in economic development. I wouldn't say it is months out. I would say less than weeks."

The governor and the Mohawks still have to work out a compact that specifies, among other things, a revenue sharing deal.A spokeswoman for the Mohawks said yesterday the compact will be negotiated later."

They are embracing this," State Sen. John Bonacic, R-C-Mount Hope, said yesterday of Spitzer."

So, I think, from what they have told me, they are going to move quickly on this, and I am glad."

Other significant hurdles would remain. The Department of Interior must take just less than 30 acres into trust.

The authorities notified the Mohawks that final approval is not guaranteed.

The casino will also likely face a number of court challenges.But casino supporters say the governor's approval would be one of the last big hurdles in the way of a decades-long dream."

It is another step for jobs and economic development in the town and county," Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini said. "I have been waiting 30 years."