Prior to Proposal 1, gambling was constitutionally permitted in the state in the forms of state-run lotteries and pari-mutuel betting on horse races, commonly known as “racinos”, and federally permitted on American Indian tribal lands.

Phase 2: After seven years pass, allow for the construction and running of three casinos in New York City.

Phase 1: Allow for the construction and running of four total casinos in upstate New York - two in the Catskills, one in the Southern Tier and one near Albany.

Cuomo (D) and legislative leaders, while not transcribed into the amendment nor ballot measure language, agreed to a two phase expansion of casinos upon the measure's approval: Gary Pretlow (D-89) sponsored the measure in the state legislature as Assembly Bill 8068. The measure allowed the legislature to authorize up to seven casinos in the state, specifically for stated purposes of promoting job growth, increasing funding to schools and permitting local governments to lower property taxes.

The New York Casino Gambling Amendment, Proposal 1, was on the Novemballot in New York as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. 9.1 Coalition Against Gambling in New York.

New york casino legislation