While Saratoga Springs leaders are anxious to see Saratoga Casino and Raceway chosen as one of seven permanent casino sites that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing, their main concern is protecting the horse racing industry and the revenue it brings in to the state.
To that end, a coalition, Citizens for Saratoga Racing, has been formed and is focused on encouraging state officials to guarantee that before voters are asked to consider approving casino gambling in New York state, they will pass legislation that will govern the implementation of this change.
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, who is on the coalition, said he is very concerned for the future of thoroughbred and harness racing and said those industries should be protected before casino gambling is considered in November.
“We believe the legislature and governor should approve the enabling legislation that governs how a casino policy would be implemented because there are a lot of details that are important for voters to know,” Shimkus said.
The coalition is advocating for four points: the locations of full-scale casinos should be limited to approved VLT and racing locations; the cities and counties approved to host casinos should be provided host benefit payments; monies designated for race tracks must be fixed at amounts appropriated in 2012; and monies designated for VLT at Saratoga must be fixed at 2012 levels.
The Saratoga racecourse is supported in part by the VLT funds by the Aqueduct Racino and the Saratoga Racino VLT supports harness racing in Saratoga. Shimkus said around $100 million is invested every year into the harness racing track, purses, capital improvement and supported breeding programs.
“It is a very complicated issue,” said Shimkus. “The most important detail is that with the money that would come in, where does the money go?”
The Citizens for Saratoga Racing coalition is made up of horse owners, breeders, trainers and representatives from the business and tourism community.
Shimkus said Lake George and Albany are being considered as possible freestanding casino sites and it would be devastating if one of those were chosen.
“It would clearly have a negative impact on Saratoga raceway, which in turn could have a negative impact on harness raceway,” said Shimkus. “The location of the casinos and how revenue is shared are the two are details we ought to know before we go to polls in November.”
For casinos to be allowed by law in New York, it is required that two successive legislatures pass a change to the constitution. If that happens, there would be a referendum across the state. Last year, the legislature passed language to allow gambling. If it passes again, it would go on the ballot in November. Shimkus said the wording simply authorizes casinos. It doesn’t detail where the money will be shared or where the casinos would be located.
“We’re talking about the future of both thoroughbred and harness racing that is absolutely and positively connected to the discussion of casinos,” said Shimkus. “You can’t separate the two.”
Shimkus said the thoroughbred racing industry has a $200 million economic impact every year throughout the Capital District.
“If done wrong, allowing casinos could harm that,” he said. “If done right, casinos could help that.”
Rita Cox, who is a spokesperson at Saratoga Casino and Raceway, is also anxious for Saratoga Springs to be chosen and feels confident that it has an advantage.
“We have a nine-year proven track record,” she said. “We have a tremendous partnership with New York State as a good community partner. We’ve raised more than $500,000 for education.”
Cox also said the other advantage is the very existence of the casino.
“We can be up and operational and generating more revenue for the state than anyone else,” she said. “It is shovel ready. We would like to make certain that we are one of the seven. Everything hinges on where these locations are going to be.”