Gural Isn’t Happy With Casino Referendum Delay

Tioga Downs owner Jeffrey Gural isn't pleased that a public vote on approving upstate gambling casinos may not happen this year.

Governor Cuomo and other state officials now expect a referendum on establishing three casinos probably will have to wait until 2014.

Gural says the jobs that would be created by the expansion of casino gambling are needed now.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Gural said it's important that the process involved in clearing the way for major casinos be transparent.

But Gural said the real issue is what's more important: jobs or transparency.

Gural wants Tioga Downs to be the site of one of the Las Vegas-style casinos that could open upstate. He said the transition process of setting up such an operation would be much quicker at an existing site like the one he operates in the town of Nichols.

Gural also said he wants to proceed with his announced plan to build a hotel at the Tioga Downs property. He's working to secure bank financing for that project.

Gural said he's willing to gamble and move forward with the hotel plan even before the state gives final approval to casino expansion. But he said lining up the financing might be difficult.