After a process of more than two years involving investigation and selection, Tioga Downs was approved for a full-scale casino license by the New York State Gaming Commission back in August. The casino is expected to begin offering slot machines and table games by November once the final casino regulations are approved. However, in the meantime, the casino is focusing on preparing for the full-scale casino launch. Just this week, new slot machines arrived on-site, ready to be installed.
A total of 63 slot machines were delivered to the Tioga Downs on Tuesday with the venue set to install almost 950 machines by the end of the year. Tioga Downs is currently undergoing an expansion with a hotel being constructed adjacent to the race track and gambling parlor. The groundbreaking of the hotel took place just last month.
Tioga Downs was purchased by Jeff Gural, a real estate executive, back in 2005 and since that time, Gural has been working to expand the venue, pledging to invest as much as $122.6 million on the property. Gural fought hard to see the Tioga Downs become a fully functioning casino and after being passed over in the first site location process?finally won a casino license.
The Tioga Downs property will be the first new casino to operate in Upstate?New York, with del Lago Resort & Casino, Montreign Resort Casino, and Rivers Casino at Mohawk Harbor to follow after.