Cuomo watch: Casino plan gains traction

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to split casino development into two phases and to begin with three gambling halls upstate seems to be gathering momentum.

Last year, the State Legislature gave first passage to a constitutional amendment to authorize up to seven non-Indian-run casinos in New York. Lawmakers must pass it again this year before it can go on the ballot for a statewide referendum.

Sources said the legislature is warming to the upstate-first initiative. But haggling will continue over where to site casinos and whether a region can land more than one. Catskills legislators have made a long and sustained campaign for more than one.

-- Yancey Roy