It’s ready, set, go for the Aqueduct Racino project – for now.
In a letter to Governor David A. Paterson, Lottery Director Gordon Medenica and the Lottery made their recommendation of Genting New York official.
“It is with genuine enthusiasm that the Committee unanimously recommends Genting New York as the winning vendor,” said Medenica. “Our strong recommendation, based on the merits of the proposal, was vastly reinforced by Genting’s financial offer of $380 million as an upfront licensing fee.”
Medenica also said that Genting’s experience in gaming was one of the deciding factors and that their emergence as the sole bidder is a testament to their efforts. The next step, according to Medenica, is for the legislature to add their support.
“We urge our legislative leaders to quickly add their support in order for the State to receive, finally, the massive influx of monies that this project will generate,” said Medenica. “Genting New York was not the only bidder for this project; it was the best bidder for this project. And Genting New York is not the only winner of this process; the people of New York, through jobs, economic activity and aid to education, are the bigger winners.”
The Lottery’s recommendations come on the heels of a state judge easing on the reins and dismissing a lawsuit brought by the Aqueduct Entertainment Company (AEC) that would have stopped the long-delayed project to bring video slot machines to the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.
The ruling, which came down in a Schenectady courtroom on Thursday, July 29, allows the State Lottery Division to stand by its decision to deny AEC the license to operate the terminals.
State Supreme Court Judge Barry Kramer ruled that the State Lottery Division had a rational basis for its decision to deny a license to AEC. The decision allows Lottery to continue moving forward with sole remaining bidder Genting New York in the drawn out and long delayed process of getting 4,500 video lottery terminals installed at the track.
AEC contended that the Lottery Division’s decision to block their bid was made randomly; however, the judge disagreed, ruling that they made their decision “rationally and was not arbitrary or capricious.”
AEC plans to appeal the judge’s ruling.
