How much is a crushing pall of slot machine-induced sadness in Queens worth? $90 million over two months, to be exact. The Daily News reports that's what the Aqueduct racino earned from October 28 through December 31, making more than five upstate racinos did all year. As any compulsive gambler knows, the only thing to do when you're on a winning streak that can't possibly be stopped is to double down.
"Their opening numbers are really impressive," an official from a competing racino told the paper. "I'm sure some of that is the curiosity and wow factor." That "wow factor" is exactly what Governor Cuomo is hoping will sustain the planned $4 billion convention center and casino at the Queens Aqueduct Racetrack. Lukewarm convention industry-economy be damned: people WILL show up for Pai Gow Poker.
Cuomo's recommendation for an amendment to the state's constitution to legalize gambling (he told Azi Paybarah today that he'll "push very hard" for it) comes as the combined racino revenue shot up by 15.8%, or $1.26 billion from 2010. And fewer New Yorkers are choosing to exercise their vices alone, as Lotto revenue was down 4.6% from last year.
However, we would have recommended that Governor Cuomo actually visit the Queens racino before pitching the casino/convention center. We hear the plastic drums of flammable liquid wrapped in cellophane go great with video poker.
