ALBANY, NY — State Senator John Bonacic has introduced legislation that would create three casinos in the Catskills and authorize up to seven in the state, if voters in November approve a referendum to change the state’s constitution to allowing non-Indian gambling.

The legislation is similar to a plan put forward back in 2001, which authorized three Native American casinos in Sullivan and Ulster counties.

"In 2001, three casinos were proposed for the Catskills and three for Western New York. Western New York got their three casinos and the Catskills got none. I am asking Governor Cuomo to help the Catskills get ours," Senator Bonacic said.

Governor Cuomo has put forward a plan that would allow only one casino in the Catskills, and two others initially could be located in other regions around the state.

There are presently four properties under active speculation or development for gaming in Sullivan and Ulster Counties: the Grossingers site in Liberty, the Concord site in Monticello, the Nevele site in Wawawarsing, and the Flaum property off of Route 17 in Mamakating.

Roberta Lockwood, President of the Sullivan County Visitor's Association said, "the Bonacic plan presents a concrete, real plan for the Legislature to consider. We have heard it many times before, but this time with a strong Governor on board, and an intelligent plan offered, we may finally be on the precipice of major new tourism investment in the Catskills."

As for the public vote on the issue, Cuomo last week told reporters that it might be best to wait until 2014 because of the political realities of the election season this year. The most important elections in November will be in New York City where there will be a vote for mayor and one of the candidates is the disgraced, but perhaps rehabilitated, Anthony Wiener.

With no similarly important races in upstate New York it could be that voters from the city will have an out-sized role in determining the fate of the future of casinos in New York, even though there is no plan to locate a casino there.

The Siena Research Institute reported on May 20 that support for a casino gambling constitutional amendment is running at 53% in favor, and 37% against, which is higher than it has ever been in the past, but there is less support in the city than elsewhere.

Additionally, whenever the vote is scheduled, gambling interests outside of the state are expected to launch a large advertising campaign against the constitutional amendment to protect their own interests.