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New York Casinos Will Have Plenty of Competition

"…Optimists believe casinos in downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls and on the Senecas reservation could open as quickly as 12 to 15 months from now, which would put them about one year ahead of the grand opening of the $800 million Hyatt Resort & Casino project in Niagara Falls, Ont.

"The prospect of four casinos within a 75 mile radius plus high stakes video gaming at three horseracing tracks, also within a 75 mile radius, will give the region the highest concentration of gaming facilities in the state outside of the Atlantic City/New York City corridor.

"…Still, most believe because of its location (Niagara Falls), established customer base (14 million annual visitors with projections of upwards of 20 to 25 million tourists), head start (Casino Niagara opened in 1996 and attracts more than 8 million people annually) and sheer opulence, the Canadian casino will be the engine that drives any regional gaming efforts.

"…[ Nick Pritzker, Hyatt Development Corp. chairman and CEO] feels the addition of casinos in Western New York will only enhance the region's overall draw for tourists. Buffalo has amenities that Niagara Falls doesn't, such as the Sabres, Bills and live Broadway theater. Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Ont., can -- and should -- cross market to each other, Pritzker added.

"…Tim Hudak, an Ontario provincial minister and also minister of its Tourism, Culture and Recreation board, pointed out there is already a strong synergy between Western New York and Southern Ontario.

"…`Our goal is to not fight over which side gets the largest piece of the pie,' Hudak said. `The fact is people will spend money at casinos, stores and restaurants on both sides of the border. The thing we want to do is bring more people here, so there's money being spent here.'…"

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