Paterson Wants Slot Machines at Belmont

New York Governor David Paterson has proposed that the state bring in slot machines as an additional revenue making source for the state. He proposed that Belmont Park would be the perfect solution for bringing in slot machines as it does not currently have them and it has a great location within the state.

Paterson had a list of roughly 100 ways that the state could bring in additional revenue, and the slot machines at Belmont were only one of them. The state is facing a $15.4 billion budget deficit next year, and bringing in the additional slot machines is a great way to do that.

If the slot machines were brought in, it would mean an additional $370 million for the state just from those at Belmont. This does not include the ones already slated for Aqueduct, or any of the other nine racetracks that already allow slot machines. With Belmont and Aqueduct both run by the New York Racing Association, it would be very simple to bring in the additional slot machines.

The Republicans in the state Senate and the casino companies have long wanted slot machines at Belmont, but the Democrats have been consistently against them. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is a Democrat like Paterson, has been very vocal about the fact that he does not want slot machines at the track. Now that Paterson is for the slot machines, many are wondering how Silver feels about them. His camp merely says that they are reviewing the plan and will come to a decision based on it.

 

Back to Monthly Archive // Main Slot Machine News Index