New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed legislation that would have accelerated the selection process for three downstate casino licenses, maintaining her stance of non-interference in the gaming concession decisions.

The vetoed Senate Bill 9673A would have required casino developers to submit applications by August 31, 2024, and expedited the review process. Hochul justified her decision, stating that changing the timeline mid-process would unfairly advantage certain bidders while disadvantaging others.

The veto comes amid controversy surrounding Hochul's handling of the "congestion pricing" initiative and allegations of favoritism toward Steve Cohen's $8 billion Citi Field casino bid with Hard Rock International. Cohen and his wife previously contributed $136,700 to Hochul's 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

State Senator Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens), the bill's primary sponsor, argued that expediting the casino licenses would provide an immediate $1.5 billion revenue boost to the state through the required $500 million payment per license.

Under the current timeline set by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, casino bids are due by June 27, 2025, with final decisions expected in late 2025. The licenses will grant privileges for slot machines, table games, and sports betting operations in the downstate region.

The decision maintains the original review process timeline and reinforces Hochul's position of keeping the executive office separate from the casino selection process, despite growing pressure from various stakeholders and ongoing public scrutiny of her administration's decisions.

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