Tioga Downs Expansion Plans Move Forward

The owner of Tioga Downs says he believes he has the strongest of three proposals for a Southern Tier casino offering table games, slots and several amenities.

Jeff Gural broke ground November 18 for an indoor parking garage at his Town of Nichols racino as the first part of expansion plans.

The state still has to award the license for a new casino for the region after New York voters approved Proposition One, expanding gaming on non-Native American lands to include table games like Black Jack.

In addition to Tioga Downs, Vista Hospitality Group in Binghamton and the Owners of Traditions at the Glen in the Town of Union have said they would apply for the Southern Tier license.

During the groundbreaking ceremony in Tioga County, Gural said there cannot be more than one casino just 25 miles apart and he vowed he would not be put out of business by competing proposals.