BONACIC OFFERS THE CASINO BILL

John Bonacic, pictured here with Mary Wawro of 

Saugerties, has offered a bill in the State Senate 

that would open New York State to casino gambling

without the Native American reservation restrictions.

It may be time we actually think about this. 

Way to go John!

Here is the Bill as posted: 

BILL NUMBER:S6734

TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to subdivision 1 of section 9

of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to 

casino gambling in the state

PURPOSE:
Provides for the authorization of commercial casino 

gambling in New York State.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Article 1, Section 9 of the State Constitution would

be amended to allow no more than seven casinos as 

authorized and prescribed by the legislature.

EXISTING LAW:

Article 1, Section 9 of the State Constitution 

generally proscribes all gambling except for four 

exceptions. These four exceptions are: 

(1) pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing; 

(2) State lotteries; 

(3) bingo conducted by certain charitable, 

non-profit and religious organizations; and 

(4) games of chance conducted by these same 

charitable, non-profit, and religious organizations.

JUSTIFICATION:
Casino gaining has significant potential to be a 

major economic engine for New York State and the 

fact is that gaming already exists throughout the 

State but the State is unable to fully capitalize on
it. Native Americans have five casinos and there are 

nine racinos at the racetracks in New York State. 

In fact, New York State now has more than 29,000 

electronic gambling machines; More than Atlantic City

and more than any state in the Northeast or Midwest.

New York State is also surrounded by gambling. 

States & Canadian provinces just across the State's 

borders have legalized casino gambling and they are 

the beneficiaries of the tourism, revenue, and good 

jobs that could be in New York.

It is estimated that over $1 billion of economic 

activity can be generated from casino gaming. Passing 

a Constitutional amendment would allow New York to 

maximize opportunities. Limiting casino gambling to 

between three and eight facilities guarantees there 

will not be an excessive proliferation of casinos 

within New York State.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Over the past 40 yrs, numerous resolutions have been 

introduced to amend the Constitution in New York 

to authorize commercial casino gambling. 

None of these proposals have achieved the required
second passage by the legislature and have never 

been subject to a vote of the electorate. 

In 2011, Assembly Bill No.3293/Senate Bill No. 3326, 

Assembly Bill No. 3605/Senate Bill No. 3327, and 

Assembly Bill No. 6753 were introduced to authorize 

casino gambling. None of the bills were acted on.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
There are no immediate budget implications since the 

Constitutional amendment cannot go into effect until 

January 1, 2014. Future budget implications would 

depend on the enabling legislation that would 

accompany passage of the amendment.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Constitutional amendments require the passage of a 

concurrent resolution by two separately elected 

Legislatures and subsequent approval by the voters. 

As a result, the amendment could not take
effect until January 1, 2014.