Sheldon Silver

For the last year Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been one of the largest obstacles to a casino opening in New York City. According to the New York Daily News, Silver has softened his stance on gambling in the city, but still won’t stand for one in Manhattan. Acknowledging the revenue generating potential of such an attraction, a source close to Silver said the speaker is open to allowing a casino in a destination area rather than in densely populated parts of the city. [more]

From left: Gov. Chris Christie, Newmark Chairman Jeffrey Gural and the Revel resort

Just as New York appears closer to legalizing gambling, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is blocking attempts to expand his state’s gambling options beyond Atlantic City, according to Bloomberg News.

After Pennsylvania legalized slots in 2006 and table games in 2010, it began usurping gambling revenue from Atlantic City. In fact, revenue for boardwalk casinos has fallen 37 percent since 2006, to $3.3 billion last year. And with more competition likely to arrive from New York, lawmakers want to amend the state constitution to allow casinos near the Meadowlands, closer to Manhattan. [more]

Governor Andrew Cuomo

More than half of New York voters support the creation of Atlantic City-style casinos in the state, according to poll results released today by Quinnipiac University. And Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has supported expanding gambling in the state, has an approval rating of 69 percent — and 71 percent among New York City voters.

New York City residents viewed the establishment of full casinos in the state with less enthusiasm than their upstate counterparts. Fifty-one percent of city residents supported the measure, compared to 57 percent of upstate residents, for a combined average of 54 percent. [more]