S 4608 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to the acceleration of the downstate casino licenses

This bill (S 4608) sets fixed deadlines to speed up the approval process for casino licenses in downstate New York. It requires all license applications to be submitted by June 27, 2025, mandates the gaming board to review approved applications and recommend up to three license winners by December 1, 2025, and requires the commission to finalize selections by December 31, 2025. The bill directly affects casino license applicants seeking licenses in Zone One or specific regions of Zone Two (Regions 1, 2, and 5). It establishes clear timelines for the application, review, and selection phases to accelerate the process.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

S4608 → S4608A · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amendment changes the legislative status of S 4608 from its original version to an amended version (S 4608A) and significantly modifies the gaming facility licensing process. The amendment adds specific deadlines for license selection and removes detailed provisions about community advisory committees that were in the original version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on amending New York's racing and gaming laws to accelerate downstate casino licenses, but the procedural requirements for community advisory committees were removed and replaced with streamlined selection deadlines.

TIMELINE

Added specific deadlines requiring the board to complete application reviews by December 1, 2025, and the commission to select up to three license applicants by December 31, 2025.

REQUIREMENT

Removed detailed provisions establishing community advisory committees with specific member appointments from various officials for gaming facility applications.

Replaced the detailed community advisory committee process with a streamlined approach where the board reviews applications approved by such committees before submitting decisions to the commission.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill number designation from S 4608 to S 4608-A and updated the legislative status to reflect that the bill was amended, discharged from committee, and reprinted.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 4608A

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors