New York’s casino licensing process has largely been a bust The state’s tediously slow process curbed enthusiasm among major players, including Sands, Wynn, and MGM Downstate New York was once viewed as the most coveted untapped casino market in the United States — perhaps the world. But as the process to award the three licenses earmarked for New York City, Long Island, or Westchester County moved sluggishly, and economic and operating climate conditions deteriorated, at least in the eyes of some licensee hopefuls. State officials now have only three bids to consider — and there are growing concerns another bidder might bail out. Downtown Manhattan amid dark, gloomy clouds. The New York casino process has quickly lost its attractiveness in the eyes of some big casino companies. (Image: Shutterstock) New York’s 2013 gaming bill authorized up to four casinos upstate and three downstate. The statute provided the upstate casinos with a 10-year exclusivity on downstate competition. The moratorium on the…Read MoreCategory: Commercial Gaming, #MGM, Bally’s Bronx, Empire City, Hard Rock, Japan, Joseph Addabbo, Manhattan, New York, NYC, Queens, Resorts World, Sands, Steve Cohen, Wynn, YonkersSource: Casino.org