It’s Official: Casino Coming to Hudson Valley

During a live webcast starting just at 2pm today the New York Gaming Facility Location Board has made the long awaited announcement as to who will get a casino.

The 5 members of the board have granted permission to Montreign Resort Casino to build their proposed gaming facilities at the site of the old Concord Resort in Kiamesha Lake, outside of Monticello. The 18 story casino hotel will feature an 80,000 square foot casino and 391 room hotel. There will be 2,150 slot machines and 61 gaming tables. The proposal also calls for an indoor waterpark and golf course on the site just off of Route 17.

A license was not granted to any Orange County casino. This is due to fears for traffic issues, the proximity to New York City casinos and the fact that an Orange County casino would unfairly compete with any casino that was approved for The Catskills.

These locations were chosen because the board agreed they have the most possibility for success and to benefit the people of New York State and the Hudson Valley. It was important, according to the board, to award the gaming licenses to locations that would bring much needed economic help while enhancing tourism.

For over a year there have been 16 proposals vying for the chance to operate a casino in New York State, 9 locally in the Hudson Valley. Lots of speculation has been circulating about the decision as communities debate whether casinos can bring a much needed economic boost to the region. In Newburgh, the plan to build a multi million dollar shopping plaza called The Loop was announced in early December. It's strategically located just down the street from one of the proposed casino sites. Developers had said that the project would go forward regardless of if the casino was approved or not.