Penn National Gaming might be gearing up for another bid on a contract to operate the Aqueduct racino in Queens, Crain’s reported, as are at least four others that have yet to be disclosed. The city issued its new request for proposal — its fifth attempt to select a builder an operator for the racino — last week and has since received more than 120 questions in response, submitted by five different prospective bidders, a spokesperson for the New York Lottery, which issued the RFP, said. “We’re awaiting additional information prior to deciding whether or not to participate,” Eric Schippers of Penn National said. Proposals are due June 29 with a minimum $300 million payment upfront and this time, bidders will not be allowed to lobby for their group. The last time around, Governor Paterson’s controversial selection of Aqueduct Entertainment Group for the project sparked accusations of foul play and ultimately led to the state backing down from its pick. [Crain's] 

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Penn National Gaming might be gearing up for another bid on a contract to operate the Aqueduct racino in Queens, Crain’s reported, as are at least four others that have yet to be disclosed. The city issued its new request for proposal — its fifth attempt to select a builder an operator for the racino — last week and has since received more than 120 questions in response, submitted by five different prospective bidders, a spokesperson for the New York Lottery, which issued the RFP, said. “We’re awaiting additional information prior to deciding whether or not to participate,” Eric Schippers of Penn National said. Proposals are due June 29 with a minimum $300 million payment upfront and this time, bidders will not be allowed to lobby for their group. The last time around, Governor Paterson’s controversial selection of Aqueduct Entertainment Group for the project sparked accusations of foul play and ultimately led to the state backing down from its pick. [Crain's] 

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The fight to win the bid for the Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, just lost one contender. Las Vegas casino tycoon Steve Wynn has dropped out of the race, with no clear motive. With just two weeks to go before Governor David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Democratic conference leader John Sampson are expected to announce a winning developer for the project, Penn National Gaming and SL Green are now named as the two top contenders for the job, Crain’s reported. Only last week Paterson notified bidders that they would need to provide proof that they are able to pay $200 million to the state upfront. Although Wynn Resorts had endured a brutal third quarter, Wynn’s bid of $300 million had been the highest of all the project teams.

Bidders on the Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, will have to prove their ability to pay the state $200 million within 30 days of winning the redevelopment rights to the project, Governor Paterson wrote in a letter to the companies on Friday. The request is likely to pare down the list of six bidders, which includes SL Green, MGM Mirage and Penn National Gaming, because most would need to revise their original project plans in order to comply with the request. SL Green has offered $275 million for the Aqueduct, but only $125 million would be paid upfront. Providing more money from the get-go would allow the governor to follow through on his plans to reduce the budget deficit by $5 billion, while ensuring that the winning bidder does not back out. Last year, Delaware North won the rights to the Aqueduct project but could not come up with enough cash. The group is again vying for the winning bid. Bidders have until Nov. 6 to reply to Paterson’s letter. Paterson, along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and temporary Senate President Malcolm Smith, will ultimately select the winner. [Crain’s]

The New York Daily News looks at the proposals, released yesterday, from two of the seven companies vying to redesign the Aqueduct race track. Aqueduct Entertainment Group has proposed a “racino,” which would have seven sections, each modeled on a different New York City neighborhood. The plan calls for 650 video slot machines in each section and a theme restaurant. All of the slot machines could be operational by November 2010. SL Green drafted a plan, in partnership with Hard Rock, that calls for a buffet and food court with 2,000 slot machines that could be running in six to eight months. MGM, Delaware North, Steve Wynn, Mohegan Sun and Penn National Gaming are also in the running to develop the race track. [more]