Today, the state has four commercial casinos in upstate New York. Today, commercial casinos generate more revenue than NY’s tribal gambling locations and the average New Yorker spends about $130 per/year per adult at casinos. The decision was made to help boost the state’s economy which had been experiencing sluggish growth in the years leading up to the decision. This all changed in 2013 when the state agreed to legalize Las Vegas-style casinos, which had up until this point been constrained to Native American lands. The state’s historic gambling laws have placed lots of restrictions on casino gambling. Until recently, however, the state of NY has not permitted commercial gaming. The traditional casino is a commercial enterprise.
