State Sen. John Bonacic has been named chairman of two powerful Senate committees.
Bonacic, R-C-Mount Hope, will head the Senate’s Racing, Wagering and Gaming Committee and also the Judiciary Committee, his office announced Tuesday.
As Chairman of Racing and Wagering, Bonacic could play an influential role in shaping a new Off Track Betting system with the collapse of the NYC OTB. These moves are being watched closely by Empire Resorts, the owner of the Monticello Casino & Raceway, and the horsemen. Both Empire and the horsemen split roughly $200,000 a month from the surviving OTBs but have lost potentially millions with the loss of bankrupt NYC OTB.
Empire’s executives now say they’ve got a powerful ally.
Bonacic's also a big proponent of Catskills casino gambling. Here's a statement issued by Bonacic's office back in November, when news of a deal between then-Governor Paterson and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans broke:
"Casinos have long been talked about in the Catskills but various road blocks have always gotten in the way. If Governor Paterson signs the Stockbridge Munsee Compact, as his office has told me that he will do, it is another opportunity to create jobs and rekindle tourism in the Catskills. The work will now shift to Washington to have the Federal government approve this casino. Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have increased clout given the recent elections have made their Democratic Majority smaller. I am hopeful that both of them will use that clout to have the Obama administration approve what the Bush administration would not. I believe both of them understand the jobs which are at stake here and will work in support of having this casino come to fruition.
