The Role of New York Casinos in Local Economy and Tourism

The allure of the casino industry cannot be understated, especially for retired community members and anxious businessmen looking for a fun escape from a busy personal and career focused life. Casinos aren't just about games anymore, many are full resorts that feature waterparks, restaurants, spas, and golf courses. For example, Resorts World Catskills In New York even hosts a nature center, and a conference center among other amenities.

The mission of a resort is simple enough. The average casino goer has no gambling addiction and is there to enjoy craft cocktails and maybe play a game of baccarat or two. Many casinos have special buses that take long journeys out to the casino from specific parts of the city. For example, for Resorts World Catskills customers, some buses make daily four hour round trip journeys from Flushing, Queens to the casino itself. Catskills is one of the multiple casinos in New York approved by the constitutional amendment, and there are several others just like it. For years, players would travel far and wide to gamble by taking a flight to Vegas for the weekend or driving several hours to gamble at a casino located on an Indian reservation. Nowadays, since the constitutional amendment, New Yorkers don't need to go very far to gamble.

You might be wondering about the particular reason for the abrupt change. Well, aside from the fact the US is finally loosening its restrictions on the gambling industry as a whole, New York realized the positives that could come from the gambling industry far outweigh any potential negative outcomes. This amendment was touted as an economic development effort. These casinos would create jobs, and generate revenue for upstate communities through both taxes and tourism. Casinos can supply thousands of union jobs, as well as attract tourists that will undoubtedly aid the local economy.

Casino tourism has rarely failed. There's a reason the Las Vegas economy was able to build itself up with the aid of the gambling industry. Many tribal communities use casinos to put money back into their communities, and New York is looking to do the same thing. Gambling companies have dreamt of operating casinos in New York for decades, and we're finally on the cusp of making that dream a reality. New York has undoubtedly one of the largest untapped gambling markets in the country. The sheer amount of residents in New York can make it a profitable enough endeavor! New York City has over 23 million people, and is a tourist destination as it is.

New York is in dire need of tax revenue, plus the new casinos can create jobs for New Yorkers. New York's economic plan stipulated that companies need to operate in areas of the city that need revitalization, outside of New York City. Of course, the pandemic did change things a bit. Gambling revenue nationwide hit record highs back in 2022, and New York is doing the smart thing by getting in on the action.