Nevada probes could weigh on New York casino licence process
New York State Gaming Commission chairman Brian O’Dwyer has insisted that the regulator will uphold strict integrity standards.
US.- New York State Gaming Commission chairman Brian O’Dwyer has pledged that only applicants that meet strict integrity standards will be awarded one of the three downstate land-based casino licences that are up for grabs in the state. At a Racing and Gaming Conference in Saratoga, he stressed the importance of comprehensive reviews of the character, fitness and operational capacity of candidates in New York’s ongoing casino bidding process
He suggested that some casino operators had fallen short when it came to policies to prevent money laundering, referring to cases in Nevada, where operators have been investigated and fined. In the past 12 months, three Las Vegas casino operators – MGM Resorts, Wynn Las Vegas and Resorts World Las Vegas – have agreed to pay penalties to the Nevada Gaming Commission to settle anti-money laundering violations. Both MGM and Resorts World are among those bidding to run casinos in New York.
“In dealing with this, we’ll consider those allegations, as well as other allegations for all other pertinent information regarding licensees,” he said. “Only those candidates who have met the highest standards of integrity and operational efficiencies will be awarded the licence.”
O’Dwyer also rejected suggestions that certain bidders are a ‘”lock” to receive licences. “I take this responsibility very seriously, in that whomever we determine will be granted a licence for a long time to operate in the state of New York,” he said. “The commission is neither a rubber stamp nor a potted plant.”
Last September O’Dwyer had told the New York Post that accusations against Las Vegas casinos were “particularly disturbing” due to a “culture of non-compliance”.
However, O’Dwyer has noted that AML allegations were not necessarily disqualifying criteria for a bidder. He also noted that the New York commission is required to accept the findings of the Gaming Facility Location Board.
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Under New York’s Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, issues that could lead to disqualification include “flagrant defiance” of any investigation of crimes relating to gaming, official corruption or organised crime activity.
There are eight proposals for casinos in New York, and up to three licences can be awarded. The proposals are currently being reviewed by Local Community Advisory Committees (CAC). Committees in Yonkers and Manhattan recently held public hearings on the MGM Empire City and Caesars Palace Times Square proposal.
The committees have a deadline of September 30 to vote on the projects in their jurisdictions. Those applications that receive local approval will then be able to advance to the next stage for state consideration. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to announce final decisions by December 1, with up to three licences to be granted by December 31.
