NYNY (Empire Resorts Inc.)
Monday July 30, 2007 : 03:55 PM
I'm placing a rather large speculative "bet" on:
NYNY (Empire Resorts Inc.)
Empire Resorts currently owns and operate Monticello Raceway,
a harness horseracing facility located in Monticello, New York,
90 miles Northwest of New York City
their horse race track is currenty losing money
so, they are trying to expand their gaming operations
they are currently operating 1,500 video gaming machines ("VGMs")
at the grandstand of Monticello Raceway
in conjunction with the New York State Lottery
In my view the main speculative assest is
their agreement with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe,
to develop and manage, subject to regulatory approval,
a Class III Indian casino on 29 acres of land
adjacent to Monticello Raceway.
Casino gaming, even Native American Indian Casinos,
is quite new in New York State
either side of New York is Atlantic City New Jersey, and the
Foxwoods Resort and Casino and the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut
and in January 2007 the Mohegan Sun opened at Pocono Downs, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
although casinos are popping up all around New York City
casino gaming is quite new for New York State
some tend to believe that Native American Indian casinos
will be be the forefront in the new era of gaming in New York
the Native American Indians out here on Long Island
also want to open a casino on tribal land out in "the Hamptons"
the high volatility of Empire Resorts stock
substantiates that this is NO SURE THING!
a while ago, such Native American Casinos
seemed to be sort of a sure thing,
up until the major political scandal involving one of the
current white house administration's lobyist "friend": Jack Abramoff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff
Empire Resorts itself had major problems when, during 2002,
certain affiliates of Bryanston Group, Inc.,
which was the largest stockholder in Empire Resorts,
and six former officers and directors of Empire Resorts
were indicted for various counts of tax and bank fraud
Empire Resorts has advised the New York State Racing and Wagering Board
that approximately one-half of the ownership of Bryanston
has been forfeited to the United States
as a result of the convictions referred to above,
and is working with the various governmental agencies
which regulate and license such gaming related activities
to certify clean management for the casino license
well, by now you can most likely see why Empire Resorts stock,
which was initially offered at over $100 per share
is now selling for about $5 per share
the point is that, I believe,
that such Native American casino gaming
will become operational in New York State
and Empire Resorts Inc. does have an established agreement
with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
my view of the situation also includes consideration
of the political perspectives involved
I know that area of upstate New York near Monticello Raceway
I vacationed up there a few times
Monticello is only a few miles away from the site
of the original 1969 Woodstock
that area of New York is the "Catskills Region"
at one time the Catskills was a quite thriving vacation resort area,
however times have changed,
and most of the region has economically deteriorated
a lot of non-productive farmland
big corporations have taken over the farming industry,
and small independent farmers are no longer able to compete
I believe that's the reason Max Yasgur
"rented" his farm land for the 1969 woodstock
well, from what I consider to be a politician's point of view,
the New York State "administrator's" can either let
the already economically depressed Catskills region totally disintegrate,
or, they could approve casino gaming for the region
which just might revitalize the region
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., one of the largest gaming companies, and
Trading Cove Associates, Inc., the developers of the Mohegan Sun casino,
as well as the Wisconsin Oneidas are each planning to develop Indian casinos
on properties which are near Monticello Raceway.
I'm chosing to invest in Monticello Raceway itself
the operation of all gaming on Indian lands is subject to
the unique laws, regulations and requirements arising under the
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, ("IGRA")
and legislation has been proposed which would have the effect of prohibiting
the operation of particular classes of gaming on parcels of land,
(such as Monticello Raceway) that are not located on existing Indian reservations.
Under IGRA, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe will be able to operate a casino
in the Catskills region of the State of New York only if the casino
is located on land held by the United States in trust for the tribe
and if, after consultation with the tribe and applicable state,
local and other nearby tribal officials, the Secretary of the Interior
(who acts through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (the "BIA"))
determines that a gaming establishment on the land proposed for transfer
would be in the best interest of the tribe and its members,
and would not be detrimental to the surrounding community,
and the governor of the applicable state concurs in such determination.
on December 21, 2006 the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe received a letter
from the Secretary of the Interior stating that the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's
Final Environmental Assessment had been deemed sufficient,
related to the proposed federal action approving the request
of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to take 29.31 acres into trust
for the purpose of building a Class III gaming facility
to be located at Monticello Raceway
On February 19, 2007, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer issued his concurrence
with this determination by the Secretary of the Interior,
and signed the amendment to the Class III gaming compact
between the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the State of New York
I'm placing a bet that Empire Resorts stock is worth
more then the current $5 selling price
however, as with all gaming related "bets",
there is no sure thing!