Governing Chair of New York Gaming Facility's Location Committee Unfamiliar with Casino Environments
New York Gaming Facility Location Board Makes Strides in Casino Decision-Making
The New York Gaming Facility Location Board, responsible for choosing the locations of three downstate casinos, is making progress in its decision-making process. The board, which currently consists of four members, is one member short, with the appointment of the fifth member yet to be announced.
The board's chair, Vicki L. Been, a Judge Edward Weinfeld Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, has no prior experience with casinos. Been admitted to Bloomberg that she's not a fan of gambling. Despite this, she is leading the board in its crucial task.
The board's members are appointed by various state officials, including gubernatorial appointees and local government leaders who review casino bids. One such group involved in the process are the Community Advisory Committees (CACs) related to each casino bid. These committees are composed of six members appointed by the Governor, the Mayor of New York City, the local State Senator, the local State Assembly Member, the Borough President, and the City Council Member representing the relevant district.
The fifth member of the board has not been directly named in the search results. However, the appointment of this member could prove critical in avoiding deadlock when the board picks the three winning casino locations later this year. It's unclear when the New York State Gaming Commission will appoint the fifth member.
The board has received multiple bids for the casino concessions, with eight bids filed ahead of the RFA deadline. Each casino concession costs $500 million. The board's members include Greg Reimers, a retired finance executive with a career in real estate banking at JPMorgan Chase and The Bank of New York, Terryl Brown, the vice president and general counsel at Pace University, and Marion Phillips, III, the senior vice president for community development and DEI at U.S. News & World Report.
The board's members are entitled to reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses, but are not compensated. They bring a wealth of experience in fiscal matters, accounting, finance, economics, commercial real estate, and large organization executive roles to the table.
The decision on the locations of the three casinos will have a significant impact on the local communities and economies in which they are situated. The board is tasked with ensuring that the casinos are located in areas that will benefit the most from their presence, while also considering community input and concerns.
The board's work is ongoing, and the public will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winning casino locations later this year. For now, the board continues to review the bids and consider the best options for New York State.
- Vicki L. Been, the chair of the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, is leading the group despite having no prior experience with casinos or gambling.
- The New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which is responsible for choosing the locations of three downstate casinos, is currently one member short, with the appointment of the fifth member yet to be announced.
- The location of the new casinos will have a significant impact on local communities and economies in Manhattan and other downstate areas.
- The board includes members with experience in fiscal matters, accounting, finance, economics, commercial real estate, and large organization executive roles, such as Greg Reimers, Terryl Brown, and Marion Phillips, III.
- The appointment of the fifth member could prove critical in avoiding deadlock when the board picks the three winning casino locations later this year, as the decision will be controversial due to the politics surrounding gaming facilities.
