Governor Kathy Hochul rejects essential casino legislation in New York
Written by: Richy J, 11/27/2024 11:33 Breaking the Fourth WallPhoto by Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Quick Facts
- Senate Bill S9673A seeks to speed up the process for downstate casino licensing
- Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed the bill to preserve the fairness of the process
- There's no evidence confirming Hochul favored Steve Cohen's casino bid
Richy J (that's me!) is a University of New Hampshire alum with a degree in English/Journalism. With a focus on sports, sports betting, and online casinos, I've been penning my thoughts since 2015. I've churned out plenty of content for the casino industry, including guides, reviews, promotions, and breaking news, all under the mission to deliver the latest and greatest.
In the Limelight
Senate Bill S9673A (2023-2024 session) aimed to turbocharge the timeline for awarding three new downstate casino licenses. With numerous big-time developers vying for these sought-after licenses, including draftniks like Steve Cohen—owner of the New York Mets—the need for quick action was clear.
Hochul's Veto Decision
Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed S9673A in December 2023. Her reasoning was simple: the bill thrust an accelerated timetable onto the process that wasn't required, potentially jeopardizing the review process's integrity. She made it clear that a fair and thorough examination of proposals was crucial. Such a stance indicated that the veto was a defense of the entire review process rather than preferential treatment to any specific bidder.
No Ties That Bind
No concrete evidence has surfaced linking Governor Hochul to favoritism towards Steve Cohen's bid. In fact, opposing S9673A seems to have worked in Cohen's favor, guaranteeing a more thoughtful and balanced casino selection process.
Who's Steve Cohen?
Steve Cohen is none other than the owner of the New York Mets and the driving force behind Cohen-backed development initiatives. Cohen's vision, Metropolitan Park, is a casino proposed for Citi Field in Queens. This casino bid is independent of the legislation, and Hochul's veto did not selectively target or privilege Cohen's project.
To Sum it Up
- S9673A proposes speeding up the process for downstate casino licensing
- Hochul vetoed the bill to preserve the fairness in the review process
- There's no tangible proof implicating any collusion between Hochul and Steve Cohen's casino bid
- Although Senate Bill S9673A aimed to speed up the process for downstate casino licensing, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed it to ensure fairness in the review process.
- In the 2023-2024 session, Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets, presented a casino bid for Metropolitan Park, proposed for Citi Field in Queens.
- The veto of S9673A by Hochul did not selectively target or privilege Cohen's project, as there's no tangible proof implicating collusion between Hochul and Cohen's casino bid.
- In addition to covering sports, sports betting, and online casinos, Richy J, a University of New Hampshire alum, has delved into the world of casino politics with a critical eye, reporting on breaking news and trends in the casino-and-gambling industry.
- Las Vegas and other online casinos might offer sports betting and jackpots for players, but the recent veto of S9673A by Governor Hochul highlights the importance of fairness and thoroughness in the processes of selecting new casinos.
- In a twist of events, Steve Cohen's poker skills at a casino in Las Vegas might have been put to the test after Governor Hochul vetoed the bill that could have potentially benefited his casino bid.
