Racetrack Casinos in New York State:: Current and Future Economic Impacts of Live Table Games

Racetrack Casinos in New York State:
Current and Future Economic Impacts of Live Table Games
January 2012
Racetrack Casinos in New York State: Current & Future Economic Impacts of Live Table Games
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7 Part One: New Yorks Racetrack Gaming Industry Current Economic Impact ......................... 8 Racetrack casinos as employers ...........................................................................................10 The impact of purchasing and construction ...........................................................................12 Indirect and induced effects ...................................................................................................12 Electronic gaming operations ................................................................................................13 Support for New Yorks racing and breeding industries .........................................................14 Impact of off-site spending by visitors to New York ................................................................16 Impact on state and local government revenues....................................................................17 Supporting local communities ................................................................................................18 Putting it all together ..............................................................................................................19 Part Two: The Impact of Enhanced Gaming ..............................................................................20 Investment in new and expanded facilities.............................................................................20 The impact of expanded operations.......................................................................................21 Impact on support for horse racing and breeding ...................................................................23 Impact on visitor spending .....................................................................................................24 Impact on state and local revenues .......................................................................................25 Putting it all together ..............................................................................................................26
Appleseed
Executive Summary
Since it was authorized by the legislature in 2001, racetrack gaming has emerged as a significant and growing element of New Yorks recreation and entertainment sector a source of jobs and economic growth, and a significant and growing contributor to state and local government revenues. Throughout this report, the term enhanced gaming is used to describe the proposed Constitutional amendment, which would permit live table games and slots in the State of New York.
The impact of current operations

As of late 2011, New Yorks nine racetrack casinos directly employed 5,431 people, 97 percent of whom are New York state residents. The impact of the nine casinos current operations includes: The nine casinos spending on payroll, purchasing and construction; The Lottery Divisions contracts with companies that maintain and operate the Divisions network of video lottery terminals that have been installed at the nine casinos; The financial support that the casinos provide for horse racing and breeding; and Off-site spending by out-of-state visitors to the casinos.
Including all of these elements, we estimate that, as of the end of 2011, New Yorks racetrack casinos directly and indirectly accounted for: More than $1.96 billion in state-wide economic output; More than 17,400 jobs; and About $863 million in earnings (salaries and wages).
As of the end of 2011, we estimate that the operations of the nine racetrack casinos and related enterprises directly and indirectly generated: More than $1.06 billion in annual State government revenues; and More than $73 million in annual revenues paid to local governments in New York State.
The casinos contribution to education funding $830.5 million is by far their largest contribution to state and local finance in New York State. To put this amount in perspective, a contribution of $830.5 million is equivalent to paying the salaries of more than 11,900 elementary and secondary school teachers throughout New York State.
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Jobs Casino operations Direct employment Purchasing and construction Indirect and induced effects Subtotal State lottery Direct impact Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Support for racing and breeding Direct impact Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Out-of-state visitor spending Direct impact Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Total 5,431 2,182 4,038 11,651
Output ($000s) $141,305 $664,736 $642,510 $1,448,551
110 132 242
$34,965 $20,239 $55,204
3,368 1,356 4,724
$179,800 $189,116 $368,916
590 196 786 17,403
$62,694 $31,024 $93,718 $1,966,389
The impact of enhanced gaming: investment in expanded facilities

In order to take advantage of the opportunity for growth that authorization of enhanced gaming would provide, New Yorks nine racetrack casinos are poised to invest in the construction of new facilities, and in the expansion and upgrading of existing ones. These shovel ready projects will include: About 300,000 square feet of additional gaming space; More than 600,000 square feet of event, meeting and recreational space; More than 120,000 square feet of additional restaurant space; and More than 3,400 new hotel rooms.
If enhanced gaming is approved, the nine racetrack casinos plan to invest a total of about $1.8 billion in new construction and other improvements, starting in 2014. Over a period of several years, this investment would directly and indirectly generate: About $3.33 billion in economic output; More than 17,000 person-years of employment; and About $1.32 billion in earnings.
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Direct Indirect Induced Total
Employment 7,672 3,494 5,867 17,033
Earnings ($000s) $717,673 $267,885 $337,401 $1,322,959
Output ($000s) $1,801,411 $629,038 $899,207 $3,329,655
The projected investment of $1.8 billion in construction will directly and indirectly generate: Approximately $80.8 million in New York State tax revenues; and More than $36.4 million in local taxes.
The impact of enhanced gaming: expanded operations and increased visitor spending
When fully operational, enhanced gaming will annually generate: More than $976 million in additional economic output in New York State (over and above that which would be generated by the racetrack casinos operations in 2014-15 without enhanced gaming); More than 10,300 additional jobs; and Nearly $440 million in additional earnings.
Jobs Casino operations Direct employment Purchasing Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Resorts World hotel expansion Direct employment Purchasing and construction Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Support for racing and breeding Direct impact Indirect and induced effects Subtotal Out-of-state visitor spending Direct impact Indirect and induced effects Subtotal 4,378 577 1,242 6,197
Output ($000s) $156,290 $152,625 $192,221 $501,136
1,400 323 295 2,018
$146,697 $50,965 $41,671 $239,333
466 181 647
$26,300 $26,657 $52,957
1,087 369 1,457
$122,857 $59,978 $182,835
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Total
10,319
$976,261
With the implementation of enhanced gaming, gross gaming revenues at the nine racetrack casinos are expected to increase to a total of $3.27 billion in 2014-15 an increase of approximately $1.17 billion above the level the industry would be expected to reach in 2014-15 without enhanced gaming. This growth will translate into significant increase in revenue both for New York State and for local governments. Enhanced gaming will generate: Approximately $317.1 million in additional annual revenues for New York State; and Nearly $39.8 million in additional annual local government revenues.
As the following graphs show, with enhanced gaming: The total number of jobs directly and indirectly generated by racetrack casinos will increase by 59 percent to more than 27,700.
Total output will increase by nearly 50 percent, to $2.94 billion.
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State revenues will increase by 47 percent, to $1.57 billion.
Local government revenues will increase by 55 percent, to $113 million.
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Introduction
In just ten years, racetrack gaming has emerged as a significant and growing element of New Yorks recreation and entertainment sector a source of jobs and economic growth, and a significant and growing contributor to state and local government revenues. Racetrack gaming in New York State traces its origins to 2001, when the Legislature enacted and Governor George Pataki approved legislation authorizing video lottery terminals (VLTs) at harness and thoroughbred tracks throughout the state. (The legislation also authorized establishment of three Seneca Indian casinos and up to three freestanding casinos to be located in the Catskill region.) Saratoga Casino and Raceway became the first facility to take advantage of the new legislation when it opened the states first racino in January 2004, with Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack, Hamburg Casino at the Fairgrounds and Empire Resorts at Monticello Casino and Raceway opening later that year. Batavia Downs Casino opened in 2005, and Tioga Downs Casino, Vernon Downs Casino and Hotel, and Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in 2006. Resorts World New York became the most recent addition to the states racetrack casino network when it began operating in Queens in October 2011. Since 2004, total gaming activity and the net revenues they generate have grown rapidly. In fiscal year 2004-2005, VLT credits played at four racetrack casinos totaled $2.19 billion. In 2010-2011 (before the opening of Resorts World New York) VLT credits played at eight racetrack casinos totaled $13.34 billion a cumulative increase of 509 percent over seven years, which translates into a compound annual growth rate of 29.5 percent. Of the $13.34 billion in credits played in 2010-2011, $12.21 billion (91.6 percent of the total played) was returned to players in winnings. The net win shared by the State for education funding, facility operators, purse awards for racing, breeding funds, and lottery operations totaled about $1.11 billion (8.3 percent of the total played), of which more than $521 million was spent on State aid to education. The New York Gaming Association (NYGA), established in 2011, is an organization that represents New Yorks nine racetrack casinos. The Association has proposed that New York States constitution be amended to expand the range of gaming activities that its members are permitted to offer, to include the full range of table games. In 2011 NYGA asked Appleseed a New York City-based economic development consulting firm to assess the economic impact of permitting enhanced gaming at New Yorks nine racetrack casinos. This report presents the results of Appleseeds analysis. Part One of the report provides an overview of the operations of the nine racetrack casinos, their current impact on New York States economy, and their contribution to state and local government revenues. Part Two highlights the additional economic and fiscal impact of allowing enhanced gaming at the nine racetrack casinos.
Appleseed
Part One: New Yorks Racetrack Gaming Industry Current Economic Impact
As noted in the introduction, New Yorks racetrack gaming industry now includes nine racetrack casinos: Saratoga Casino & Raceway, Saratoga Springs (opened in 2004); Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack, Farmington (2004); Hamburg Casino at the Fairgrounds, Hamburg (2004); Monticello Casino & Raceway, Monticello (2004); Batavia Downs Casino, Batavia (2005); Tioga Downs Casino, Nichols (2006); Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel, Vernon (2006); Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers (2006); and Resorts World New York, Queens (2011).
Figure 1 shows the location of the nine racetrack casinos.

Figure 1: Map of racetrack casinos in New York State
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In the twelve months through November 30, 2011, credits played at the eight racetrack casinos that were open throughout that period totaled $14.68 billion, of which $13.464 billion (91.69 percent) was returned to players in winnings.1 Because Resorts World New York opened in October 2011, a full years data on credits played and won are not yet available. Annualized estimates of total credits played, credits won and net win for Resorts World New York were therefore based on results reported by the New York State Lottery Division for the five weeks ending on January 28, 2012 that is, the five weeks following the opening of the second phase of Resorts Worlds development in Queens, which brought the number of VLTs in operation at the casino to its current total of 5,000. Average weekly results during the five week period were then multiplied by 52 to produced annualized estimates of gaming activity at Resorts World. (This approach probably understates what Resorts Worlds results would be on a full-year basis, in that it does not take into account seasonal variations that are typical in the industry, with January often being a slow month.) These annualized estimates were then added to the twelve-month actual results reported for the eight other racetrack casinos. We thus estimate that as of the end of 2011, the nine racetrack casinos were on an annualized basis producing: $25.13 billion in credits played; $23.30 billion returned to players in credits won (92.7 percent of credits played); and $1.767 billion in net win, shared between the state and the operators of the nine casinos (7 percent of total credits played).2
The allocation of net win is defined by State law. Of an annualized total of $1.767 billion: About $830.5 million (47 percent of the total net win) goes to New York State, to be spent on education; $176.7 million (10 percent) is allocated to the State for administration and operation of the VLT network and other electronic gaming; Another $179.8 million (10.2 percent) is used to support New Yorks horse racing and breeding industries; $423 million (24 percent) is retained by the racetrack casinos to cover operating costs; An additional $141 million (8 percent of the total) was allocated by lottery for marketing of the facilities; and
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The remaining 0.25 percent of the gross about $57 million is used to provide free play credits to players. The use of an annualized estimate for Resorts World New York means that these estimates exceed actual results for calendar year 2011. For the calendar year, net win for the nine racetrack casinos totaled $1,259,248,845 and the education contribution totaled $593,399,615.
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$15.8 million (0.9 percent) was retained by Lottery and made available for capital improvements.
Figure 2 shows the allocation of net win.
Figure 2: Breakdown of net win
The racetrack gaming industry contributes in several ways to the economy of New York State, and to the communities in which the nine racetrack casinos operate. Collectively, these enterprises are major employers, buyers of goods and services from New York firms, sponsors of construction projects, sources of state and local government revenues, and magnets for visitors from outside the communities in which they are located.
Racetrack casinos as employers

As of November 2011, New Yorks nine racetrack casinos collectively employed a total of 5,431 people, of whom about 71 percent worked full-time and 29 percent part-time. Employees included a mix of management and other professionals, administrative and clerical staff, customer service personnel, restaurant and other food and beverage workers; facility operations and maintenance workers; and security personnel (Figure 3).
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Table 1 shows employment at each of the states racetrack gaming establishments.
Table 1: Racetrack gaming employment in New York State, by location, 2011 Full-time 397 318 141 287 85 176 201 868 1,401 3,874 Part-time 225 196 168 23 228 73 105 241 298 1,557 Total 622 514 309 310 313 249 306 1,109 1,699 5,431
Saratoga Finger Lakes Hamburg Monticello Batavia Downs Tioga Downs Vernon Downs Empire City Resorts World Total
Racetrack casino employees are overwhelmingly New York State residents. Nearly 97 percent of those employed in the racetrack gaming industry live in New York. As of November 2011, New Yorks racetrack gaming enterprises paid a total of $141.3 million in annual wages and salaries.
Figure 3: Employment by occupational category, 2011

Management 8% Other professionals 3% Information technology 1% Administrative and clerical support 4% Facility operations & maintenance 20% Cashiers/customer service 17%
Security 13%
Restaurant/other food and beverage 34%
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The impact of purchasing and construction

In addition to those they employ directly, racetrack casinos support employment in New York State through their purchases of goods and services from New York companies, and through investments in their facilities. In 2011, the nine racetrack gaming establishments spent $209.2 million on purchases of goods and services from New York companies. Major areas of in-state purchasing included: Food and beverage; Advertising and marketing; Employee health insurance; Merchandise; Equipment; and Utilities.
Using the IMPLAN input-output modeling system (an economic modeling tool commonly used in conducting economic impact analyses), we estimate that in 2011, the nine racetrack casinos purchases of goods and services directly supported 793 full-time-equivalent jobs (FTE). In 2011, the nine racetrack casinos invested a total of $463.5 million in construction, expansion and upgrading of their facilities (including $436.3 million spent on construction of the Resorts World New York casino in Queens). We estimate that these investments directly supported 1,389 FTE jobs with New York State contractors.
Indirect and induced effects

In addition to the direct economic impact of their spending on payroll, purchases and construction, racetrack casinos also have an indirect impact on New York States economy. New York businesses from which casinos purchase goods and services (including construction) use part of the money they receive from these enterprises to pay their in-state suppliers, who in turn use part of that money to buy goods and services from still another group of New York companies. Similarly, racetrack casinos employees and employees of the casinos local suppliers spend part of their earnings on purchases of goods and services such as housing, food, utilities, child care, personal items, and transportation from businesses in New York State. The employees of those businesses then do the same.
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Using IMPLAN, we can calculate these indirect and induced (or multiplier) effects of racetrack casinos direct spending on payroll, purchasing and construction. We estimate that in 2011, the racetrack gaming industry indirectly generated $642.5 million in economic output and 4,037 FTE jobs in New York State, with $223.9 million in employee earnings. Combining these indirect and induced effects with the direct impacts described above, we estimate that all nine racetrack casinos annual spending on payroll, purchasing and construction directly and indirectly accounts for: Nearly $1.449 billion in economic output in New York State; 11,651 jobs; and About $495 million in employee earnings.
Table 2 summarizes the direct, indirect and induced impact of racetrack casinos current operations on New York States economy.
Table 2: Summary of the direct, indirect and induced impact of the racetrack casinos' current operations on New York State's economy, 2011
Indirect and induced impact of spending by employees, vendors, and contractors Payroll $129,253 850 jobs Purchasing and Construction $513,257 3,188 jobs Total impact $1,448,551 11,651 jobs
Direct spending New York State Spending ($000's) Jobs Payroll $141,305 5,431 jobs Purchasing and Construction $664,736 2,182 jobs
Electronic gaming operations

As noted above, 10 percent of the net win generated by New Yorks racetrack casinos (currently about $166.0 annually is allocated to the State Lottery Division to cover the cost of operating and maintaining the states network of video lottery terminals. Based on the Lottery Divisions spending in 2010-2011, nearly three-quarters of this allocation is paid to vendors and contractors, including: Companies that provide and maintain the video lottery terminals that are used at each casino and other equipment used in electronic gaming, including Bally International, International Gaming Technology, SDG and Spielo USA Inc. All of these companies have employees based in New York (either at the casinos or on-call) to support and maintain the equipment they provide. Multimedia Games, Inc. (MGAM), a company that manages the VLT network on behalf of the Lottery Division. From a location in Schenectady, MGAM operates a computer system that centrally determines the outcome and/or monitors the results of every play on all of the VLTs now in operation at the nine racetrack casinos. The company also
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provides back-office services that support the operations and administration of the racetrack gaming system. Using IMPLAN, we estimate that the Lottery Divisions contracts with companies that supply and maintain VLT equipment and operate the VLT system directly support approximately 110 FTE jobs in New York State, with $11.83 million in earnings. Like the operations of the casinos themselves, VLT vendors operations within the state also generate jobs and economic activity indirectly. Using IMPLAN, we estimate (as shown below in Table 3) that the Lottery Divisions contracts with VLT vendors indirectly supported about $20.24 million in additional economic output in New York State, and 132 FTE jobs with approximately $7.85 dollars in earnings. Combining direct with indirect and induced effects, we estimate that in 2011 VLT vendors operations in New York State directly and indirectly accounted for about $55.2 million in economic output and 242 FTE jobs in New York State, with earnings of about $19.7 million.
Table 3: Impact of the Lottery Divisions payments to VLT vendors
Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 110 42 90 242
Earnings ($000s) $11,828 $2,777 $5,073 $19,678
Output ($000s) $34,965 $6,666 $13,573 $55,204
Support for New Yorks racing and breeding industries

In addition to its impact as an industry in its own right, VLT gaming generates revenue for two other New York industries horse racing and breeding. Under the terms of their charter from the State, racetrack casinos are required to use a portion of their share of the casinos net win to provide financial support for racing and breeding. This support takes several forms. The eight casinos not including Resorts World New York typically provide: Subsidies to the states horse racing industry equal to 8.75 percent of net win; and Subsidies for horse breeders equal to 1.25 percent of net win.
The provisions governing Resorts World New York are somewhat different. In its first year3 the new casino in Queens is providing: Financial contributions to the New York Racing Associations thoroughbred purses equaling 6.5 percent of net win;
The legislation governing Resorts World New York specifies percentage distributions to racing and breeding during the first year of operation, to be followed by increases in the second and third years. Distributions in subsequent years would follow the third-year formula.
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Subsidies for capital expenditures equal to 4 percent of net win; Subsidies to NYRA racing operations equaling 3 percent of net win; and Subsidies for breeders equal to 1 percent of net win.
On an annualized basis, we estimate that as of the end of 2011 the nine racetrack casinos provided a total of $179.8 million in support, including nearly $158 million for the states racing industry and about $22 million for New Yorks horse breeders. The casinos support for the racing industry generally takes the form of contributions to the purses for which New York horses are eligible. (As noted above, Resorts World New York also provides direct support for NYRAs operations; and some support is provided for capital improvements as well.) Over time, funding from racetrack casinos has come to represent a significant and growing share of the income of New York horsemen. Support for breeding is channeled through two funds the New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund (for standardbreds) and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund. These funds support the breeding and development of racehorses in the state by providing incentive payments to breeders and stallion-owners based on purses won by New York-bred horses. As with casino operations and the operations of VLT vendors, we can use IMPLAN to estimate the impact of the subsidies that casino gaming provides to horsemen and breeders in New York State. As Table 4 shows, we estimate that $179.8 million in financial assistance provided by the states racetrack casinos directly supports approximately 3,368 FTE jobs in harness and thoroughbred racing and in the breeding and development of horses, with $95.4 million in earnings. Combining this direct impact with the indirect and induced effects of the casinos spending on subsidies for horsemen and breeders, we estimate that these subsidies directly and indirectly support 4,724 FTE jobs with $170.4 million in earnings, and $368.9 million in statewide economic output.
Table 4: Direct, indirect, and induced impacts of racetrack casinos payments to racing and breeding industries in, New York State, 2010-2011 Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 3,368 601 755 4,724 Earnings ($000s) $95,482 $31,409 $43,579 $170,470 Output ($000s) $179,800 $72,501 $116,615 $368,916
It is important to note that the preceding analysis of the impact of the casinos support for racing and breeding deals only with the support provided through the statutory allocation of a portion of the casinos net win to purses and breeders incentives. It does not take into account the additional support that several casinos provide by covering the day-to-day operating deficits of
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the tracks with which they are affiliated. Nor does it reflect the reality that without the support provided by racetrack gaming, several of New Yorks tracks would be facing serious financial problems. With these factors taken into account, the number of racing-related jobs that are dependent on the support of gaming revenues probably exceeds by several thousand the total of 4,724 FTE jobs cited in Table 4.
Impact of off-site spending by visitors to New York

The great majority (about 92 percent) of those who visit the nine racetrack casinos are New York State residents. Nevertheless, the casinos still attract a substantial number of gamers from outside the state: as of the end of 2011, an annualized total of more than 1.8 million. Some of these out-of-state players are people who are visiting New York State primarily for some other reason, and who take the opportunity during their trip to stop in at a casino. But for others, the casino is a primary destination. This group could, for example, include Pennsylvania residents who frequent Tioga Downs, or residents of western Massachusetts who come to Saratoga. There are some for whom racetrack gaming may not be the primary reason for coming to New York, but for whom it is attractive enough to induce them to spend more money (and perhaps more time) in the state. In addition to what they spend at a casino, some of these incremental visitors also spend money off-site. An out-of-state resident who comes to Saratoga for a day of racing might, for example, decide to spend the evening at the casino, and then stay overnight in a local hotel. While data on off-site spending by casino visitors is not currently available, we can provide a rough order-of-magnitude estimate of the impact of local spending by out-of-state visitors. For purposes of this analysis, we assume that: Off-site spending by out-of-state visitors to the eight racetrack casinos outside New York City averages $30 per person per trip, and out-of-state visitors to Resorts World New York averages $40, for an annualized total of $62.69 million in 2011; and This $62.69 million in off-site spending is evenly divided among lodging, food, shopping and local transportation.
Based on these assumptions, we estimate that off-site spending by out-of-state visitors directly supported about 590 FTE jobs in hotels, restaurants, retailing and local transportation, with earnings totaling almost $10.4 million. Combining this direct impact with indirect and induced effects, we estimate that spending by out-of-state visitors to the states nine racetrack casinos (as shown in Table 5) directly and indirectly generated nearly $94 million in economic output and 786 FTE jobs in New York State.
Table 5: Impact of out-of-state visitor spending, New York State
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Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 590 62 134 786
Earnings ($000s) $17,762 $4,377 $7,530 $29,669
Output ($000s) $62,694 $10,875 $20,148 $93,718
Impact on state and local government revenues

The impact of racetrack casinos on state and local government revenues is not limited to the share of their net win that goes to New York State. The casinos generate revenues in several other ways as well, including: Taxes and other direct payments to the state and local governments; Taxes generated indirectly through the multiplier effect of the casinos spending on payroll, purchasing and construction; and Taxes generated indirectly from payments to the racing and breeding industries, Lottery Division vendor contracts, and spending by out-of-state visitors.
Table 6 summarizes the annualized impact of racetrack casino operations in 2011 on state and local revenues. As the Table shows, racetrack gaming currently generates more than $1.06 billion in revenues to New York State, and $73 million in local government revenues.
Table 6: Impact of racetrack casinos on state and local revenues, 2011 annualized ($000s) Direct State Contribution to education Contribution to Lottery administration State income tax State sales tax State corporate tax Total Local Aid to municipalities Local income tax Local sales tax Real property tax Local corporate tax Other Total $25,778.1 $1,068.2 $3,775.5 $9,203.7 $150.0 $5,750.0 $45,725.5 $12,926.0 $10,454.0 $4,103.9 $27,483.9 $25,778.1 $13,994.2 $14,229.5 $9,203.7 $4,253.9 $5,750.0 $73,209.4 $830,490.0 $176,668.5 $6,604.3 $3,937.5 $1,245.6 $1,018,945.9 $830,490.0 $176,668.5 $38,122.1 $7,822.0 $1,067,780.4 Indirect Total
$31,517.8 $10,667.3 $6,649.4 $48,834.5
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Supporting education spending in New York State = 11,900 teachers The racetrack casinos contribution to education funding $830.5 million is by far their largest contribution to state and local finance in New York State. To put this amount in perspective: State Department of Labor data indicate that the average salary for elementary and secondary school teachers in New York State is $69,729. A contribution of $830.5 million is thus equivalent to paying the salaries of more than 11,900 elementary and secondary school teachers throughout New York State.
Supporting local communities

In addition to the support they provide to state and local governments, New Yorks racetrack casinos support their local communities through charitable giving and through other community initiatives. The racetrack casinos contributions to local community organizations in 2011 totaled more than $1.12 million. The total included, for example, $209,000 contributed by Saratoga Gaming and Raceway to local organizations. Several of the casinos also work closely with local agencies and community organizations to provide job opportunities to local residents. For example: Tioga Downs Casino works with the New York State Department of Labors Working Solutions center to recruit and hire local residents, and also recruits through local colleges, schools and community organizations. Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel works with the Oneida-Lewis ARC to recruit and hire people with disabilities, and with the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center to provide jobs for people who have legally immigrated to the United States seeking refuge from persecution due to race, religion etc. Empire Resorts at Monticello Casino & Raceway similarly works with the Orange/Sullivan Employment Alliance Network to hire people with disabilities. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway works with local colleges and community organizations such as WESTCOP, WESTHAB, and Westchester ARC, as well as the New York State Department of Labors office in White Plains, to connect local residents with jobs at Empire City.
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Resorts World New York has worked with New York Citys Workforce One center in Jamaica and with the Council on Airport Opportunity to place Queens residents in jobs at its new casino.
Putting it all together

Combining the impacts of the racetrack gaming industrys current operations, subsidies provided to the states racing and breeding industries, the Lottery Divisions vendor contracts and off-site spending by out-of-state visitors, we estimate that in 2011 New Yorks racetrack gaming industry directly and indirectly accounted for approximately: $1.966 billion in economic output; 17,403 jobs; and $863 million in earnings.
The industry is also a major contributor to state and local government finance. Directly and indirectly, racetrack casinos currently generate; More than $1.067 billion in state revenues, including $830.5 million allocated from the casinos net win to support state funding for education; and More than $73 million in local government revenues.
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Part Two: The Impact of Enhanced Gaming

In just a few years the racetrack casino industry has become a significant source of private investment, jobs and government revenues for New York. Within the next few years, however, racetrack casinos impact on the states economy could increase substantially, if the Legislature and the voters approve an amendment to New York States constitution allowing the industry to offer the full range of casino gaming. This increased impact would be generated in several ways, including: Investment of an estimated total of approximately $1.804 billion in expanded facilities; Expansion of the operations within the nine racetrack casinos and associated enterprises (such as hotels); Increased support for the racing and breeding industries; and Off-site spending by increased numbers of out-of-state visitors to the casinos.
This part of the report examines each of these impacts.
Investment in new and expanded facilities

In order take advantage of the opportunity for growth that authorization of enhanced gaming would provide New Yorks nine racetrack casinos are already planning to invest in the construction of new facilities and in expansion and upgrading of existing ones. These improvements will include: About 300,000 square feet of additional gaming space; More than 500,000 square feet of event, meeting and recreational space; More than 120,000 square feet of additional restaurant space; and More than 3,400 new hotel rooms.
Based on data provided by racetrack casino operators, we estimate that if the Legislature and the voters approve the proposed constitutional amendment, the nine racetrack casinos could invest a total of about $1.804 billion in new construction and other improvements, starting in 2014.4
Because planning for development of a new convention center and other facilities at Resorts World New York is still at an early stage, it is difficult to define in detail how much of the new construction proposed for that site is contingent on approval of enhanced gaming. For purposes of this analysis we have assumed that certain elements of the proposed second phase of development including 2,000 hotel rooms and other casino improvements with
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Table 7 shows Appleseeds preliminary estimates of the cost of new and expanded facilities now being planned by each casino.
Table 7: Preliminary construction estimates by casino Spending (in $000's) $900,000 $86,000 $80,000 $59,900 $298,550 $37,655 $21,500 $9,900 $310,000 $1,803,505
Resorts World New York Batavia Downs Casino Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack Hamburg Casino at the Fairgrounds Monticello Casino and Raceway Saratoga Casino and Raceway Tioga Downs Casino Vernon Downs Casino and Hotel Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway Total
Using IMPLAN, we estimate that this investment would directly support 7,672 person-years of employment with New York-based contractors in construction and related industries, with a total of almost $718 million in earnings. Combining this direct impact with the indirect and induced impact of construction spending, we estimate that this investment would generate a total of $3.332 billion in economic output and 17,033 person-years of employment, with $1.322 billion in earnings. Table 8 summarizes the impact of construction spending.
Table 8: Impact of construction spending, 2014-2016 Employment 7,672 3,494 5,867 17,033 Earnings ($000s) $717,673 $267,885 $337,401 $1,322,959 Output ($000s) $1,804,000 $629,038 $899,207 $3,332,245
The impact of expanded operations

Based on information provided by the nine racetrack casinos, we estimate that (as shown in Table 9) when the new and expanded facilities described above are completed, employment at the nine casinos and related businesses will increase by a total of 4,378 full-time and part-time
an estimated total cost of $900 million are contingent on approval of enhanced gaming. Investment in the convention center is not included in our analysis.
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jobs. Employment in gaming operations, hotels, food service and event, meeting and entertainment venues will account for most of the projected new employment. (This estimate does not include employment at the new hotels to be developed at Resorts World, which is addressed separately below.) Based on current salaries and wages (escalated at 2.5 percent annually through 2014), we estimate that annual salaries and wages for these new jobs will total approximately $118.3 million. In addition to increasing total salaries and wages, enhanced gaming will provide opportunities for casino employees to earn additional income from tips. Nationwide, casino dealers averaged $12.40 per hour in tips, and cashiers averaged $2.40 per hour.5 Based on these averages, we estimate that enhanced gaming will increase employees earnings by an additional $38.0 million in tip income. Expanding the operations of New Yorks racetrack casinos will also result in increased purchases of goods and services from businesses in New York State. We estimate when the expanded gaming and related facilities are fully operational, the nine casinos will spend approximately $152.6 million annually on goods and services bought from New York State companies, directly supporting approximately 577 full-time-equivalent jobs with these companies, with earnings totaling nearly $53 million. As in our analysis of the impact of the racetrack casinos current operations, we can also use IMPLAN to estimate the indirect and induced impact of the additional employment and purchasing that would result from their expansion. We estimate that the racetrack casinos additional spending on payroll and purchasing would indirectly generate: $192 million in additional economic output throughout New York State; 1,242 additional FTE jobs; and $69 million in additional earnings.
Combining the direct impact of the projected expansion of casino operations with these indirect and induced effects, we estimate that when completed, the expansion of casino operations and related facilities will directly and indirectly account for: $501 million in additional economic output throughout New York State; 6,197 additional jobs; and $278 million in additional earnings.
The impact of the projected expansion of casino operations is summarized in Table 9.

Table 9: Impact of casino payroll and purchasing, New York State Indirect and induced impacts of spending by employees and vendors Employees Vendors
New York State
Direct spending Payroll Purchasing
Total impact
PayScale.com, November 2011
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Output ($000's) Jobs
$156,290 4,378 jobs
$152,625 577 jobs
$95,441 676 jobs
$96,780 566 jobs
$501,136 6,197 jobs
In addition to the impacts summarized in Table 9, additional jobs and economic activity will be generated by the 2,000 new hotel rooms that are to be developed at Resorts World. As shown below in Table 10, we estimate that the new hotels will directly employ 1,400 people and directly generate $146.7 million in economic output and $53 million in earnings. When indirect and induced effects are included, the hotels will directly and indirectly generate a total of 2,018 jobs, $239.3 million in economic output, and $81 million in additional earnings.
Table 10: Impact of Resorts World hotel expansion
Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 1,400 323 295 2,018
Earnings ($000s) $52,770 $15,440 $12,959 $81,169
Output ($000s) $146,697 $50,965 $41,671 $239,333
Impact on support for horse racing and breeding

Because the availability of table games will increase total attendance and because freestanding slot machines would be expected to generate more revenue than VLTs enhanced gaming is expected to increase total slot revenues at New Yorks racetrack casinos. For this analysis, we assume that: Slot revenues under enhanced gaming would be approximately $263 million higher than VLT revenues would be in 2014-2015 in the absence of enhanced gaming; and Horsemen and breeders would receive the same share of net win under the legislation governing enhanced gaming as they do under the current statute.
Based on these assumptions, we estimate that with the full implementation of enhanced gaming at the nine racetrack casinos, subsidies provided to the racing and breeding industries would increase by approximately $26.3 million annually. Using IMPLAN, we estimate that these subsidies would be sufficient to directly support approximately 466 FTE jobs in horse racing and breeding, with wages totaling $13.3 million. Combining direct with indirect and induced impacts, we estimate that (as shown in Table 11) the projected increase in racing and breeding subsidies would support nearly $53 million in economic output and 647 FTE jobs in New York State, with earnings totaling $23.8 million.
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Table 11: Incremental impact of projected increase in racetrack gaming payments to racing and breeding industries in New York State as a result of enhanced gaming Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 466 80 101 647 Earnings ($000s) $13,315 $4,409 $6,066 $23,790 Output ($000s) $26,300 $10,521 $16,136 $52,957
Impact on visitor spending

The introduction of enhanced gaming at New Yorks racetrack casinos is also likely to result in higher levels of off-site visitor spending. For this analysis, we assume that: The availability of table gaming (along with the shift from VLTs to free-standing slot machines) will increase total attendance at New Yorks racetrack casinos by about 21 percent above 2011 levels; New York State residents who in the absence of enhanced gaming would be gambling out-of-state instead, and residents of other states who are newly attracted to New York casinos, will account for 60 percent of this increase at Aqueduct, and 40 percent of the increase at the other casinos; Because the demographics of table gaming differ from those of current VLT players, average spending per person, per trip will be somewhat higher than we assumed in Part One for our analysis of the current impact of off-site visitor spending an average of $45 per person per trip outside New York City, and $60 per person per trip within the City.
Based on these assumptions, we estimate that in the first full year of operation, enhanced gaming would generate an increase of approximately $122.9 million in off-site visitor spending. This increase in off-site spending by out-of-state visitors and returning New Yorkers would directly support 1,087 FTE jobs in hotels, restaurants, retailing and local transportation, with earnings totaling more than $34 million. Combining this direct impact with indirect and induced effects, we estimate that the increase in off-site spending would directly and indirectly generate almost $183 million in economic output and 1,457 FTE jobs in New York State (Table 12).
Table 12: Impact of out-of-state visitor and recaptured resident spending, New York State
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Employment (FTE) 1,087 119 250 1,457
Earnings ($000s) $34,262 $8,447 $14,525 $57,234
Output ($000s) $122,857 $21,472 $38,506 $182,835
Impact on state and local revenues

Enhanced gaming would also generate increased revenues for state and local governments. As shown in Table 13, we estimate that the projected investment of $1.804 million in construction will generate approximately $80.8 million in New York State income, sales and business taxes; and more than $36.4 million in local income, sales and business taxes.
Table 13: One-time increase in state revenues resulting from spending on construction Direct $31,021.1 $6,770.0 $37,791.1 $10,367.3 $3,393.4 $13,760.7 Indirect $26,157.5 $11,336.5 $5,499.9 $42,993.9 $8,741.9 $11,109.7 $2,756.7 $22,608.3 Total $57,178.6 $11,336.5 $12,269.9 $80,785.0 $19,109.2 $11,109.7 $6,150.1 $36,369.0
State income tax State sales tax State corporate tax Total Local income tax Local sales tax Local corporate tax Total
In addition to this one-time increase in tax revenues from construction, the State and local governments would see an increase in annual revenues from racetrack gaming and related enterprises. Based on a study conducted for the New York Gaming Association in 2011, Appleseed estimates that in 2014-2015 enhanced gaming would generate an increase in net win from slot machines of about $263 million, along with a net win from table games of approximately $908 million. Total gaming revenues would thus increase by more than $1.17 billion to a total of $3.27 billion. This in turn would lead to: An increase of $133 to $169 million in New York States share of slot machine revenues (relative to the States share of projected VLT revenues in 2014); and $118 to $155 million in new revenues from table gaming (assuming that the state receives 15 percent of the net win from table games).
Taking the midpoint of these projections, we estimate for purposes of this analysis that enhanced gaming will increase distributions to the State out of the nine casinos net win by $287 million.
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As shown below in Table 14, other state and local revenues would increase as well. With full implementation of enhanced gaming, we estimate that: Annual state income, sales and corporate taxes would increase by nearly $30.1 million; and Aid to municipalities would increase by $7.9 million (assuming that this aid increase in proportion to the states share of net win); and annual local income, sales and corporate taxes and other local payments would increase by $14.83 million.
Table 14: Increase in state and local revenues resulting from enhanced gaming ($000s) Direct State Increase in contribution from net win Increase in state income tax Increase in state sales tax Increase in state corporate tax Total Local Increase in aid to municipalities Increase in local income taxes Increase in local sales taxes Increase in local corporate taxes Increase in local hotel taxes Increase in real property tax Increase in other local payments Total $7,904.9 $318.8 $2,727.4 $98.6 $13,507.6 TBD $4,200.0 $28,757.3 $4,177.4 $5,565.3 $1,289.1 $7,904.9 $4,496.2 $8,292.7 $1,387.7 $13,507.6 $4,200.0 $39,789.1 $287,000.0 $6,013.5 $2,587.5 $555.9 $296,156.9 $12,602.9 $5,678,9 $2,657.9 $20,939.7 $287,000.0 $18,616.4 $8,226.4 $3,213.8 $317,096.6 Indirect Total
$11,031.8
Putting it all together

As noted above, the investments in new and expanded facilities that will follow approval of enhanced gaming will over a period of several years directly and indirectly generate: More than $3.3 billion in additional economic output in New York State; Between $250 and $320 million in additional support for education; More than 17,000 person-years of employment; About $1.32 billion in earnings; and More than $117 million in state and local government revenues.
When fully operational, enhanced gaming will annually generate:
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$976 million in additional economic output in New York State (over and above that which is generated by the racetrack casinos current operations); More than 10,300 additional jobs; and Nearly $440 million in additional earnings.
And as noted above, enhanced gaming will generate approximately $317.1 million in additional annual revenues for New York State; and nearly $39.8 million in additional local government revenues.
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Racetrack Casinos in New York State:: Current and Future Economic Impacts of Live Table Games

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Racetrack Casinos in New York State:

Current and Future Economic Impacts of Live Table Games

The impact of current operations

Output ($000s) $141,305 $664,736 $642,510 $1,448,551

110 132 242

$34,965 $20,239 $55,204

3,368 1,356 4,724

$179,800 $189,116 $368,916

590 196 786 17,403

$62,694 $31,024 $93,718 $1,966,389

The impact of enhanced gaming: investment in expanded facilities

Direct Indirect Induced Total

Employment 7,672 3,494 5,867 17,033

Earnings ($000s) $717,673 $267,885 $337,401 $1,322,959

Output ($000s) $1,801,411 $629,038 $899,207 $3,329,655

Output ($000s) $156,290 $152,625 $192,221 $501,136

1,400 323 295 2,018

$146,697 $50,965 $41,671 $239,333

466 181 647

$26,300 $26,657 $52,957

1,087 369 1,457

$122,857 $59,978 $182,835

Total output will increase by nearly 50 percent, to $2.94 billion.

State revenues will increase by 47 percent, to $1.57 billion.

Local government revenues will increase by 55 percent, to $113 million.

Figure 1 shows the location of the nine racetrack casinos.

Figure 2 shows the allocation of net win.

Figure 2: Breakdown of net win

Racetrack casinos as employers

Table 1 shows employment at each of the states racetrack gaming establishments.

Figure 3: Employment by occupational category, 2011

Restaurant/other food and beverage 34%

The impact of purchasing and construction

Indirect and induced effects

Electronic gaming operations

Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 110 42 90 242

Earnings ($000s) $11,828 $2,777 $5,073 $19,678

Output ($000s) $34,965 $6,666 $13,573 $55,204

Support for New Yorks racing and breeding industries

Impact of off-site spending by visitors to New York

Table 5: Impact of out-of-state visitor spending, New York State

Employment (FTE) Direct Indirect Induced Total 590 62 134 786

Earnings ($000s) $17,762 $4,377 $7,530 $29,669

Output ($000s) $62,694 $10,875 $20,148 $93,718

Impact on state and local government revenues

$31,517.8 $10,667.3 $6,649.4 $48,834.5

Supporting local communities

Putting it all together

Part Two: The Impact of Enhanced Gaming

This part of the report examines each of these impacts.

Investment in new and expanded facilities

Direct Indirect Induced Total

The impact of expanded operations

The impact of the projected expansion of casino operations is summarized in Table 9.

New York State

Direct spending Payroll Purchasing

PayScale.com, November 2011

Output ($000's) Jobs

$156,290 4,378 jobs