by Ray Poirier | It’s hardly like a horse race where early favoritism is generally static but once again rumors circulating in Albany, New York, have elevated both Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) and Delaware North Companies into favorites’ roles for the Aqueduct slots license.
Two weeks ago, word had Steve Wynn and SL Green as the early choices of the selection committee consisting of Gov. David Paterson, Senate Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, all Democrats.
Then, surprising nearly everyone, Wynn backed out.
A few days later, the handicappers placed SL Green in the top category with Penn National Gaming Inc., primarily because SL Green had upped its bid to $300 million while Penn National promised to pay $275 million up front, if named.
Currently, observers say Gov. Paterson’s choice is SL Green while the Senate’s choice is AEG, the group of multiple partners forged into a major contender by Larry Woolf of the Las Vegas-based Navegante Group.
Silver, reportedly, leans toward Jeremy Jacobs’ Delaware North of Buffalo, the company that provides slots services at several New York facilities. However, Delaware North was the original choice of Gov. Paterson but at the time the company was unable to generate the funding for the project.
Selection of an operator for the Aqueduct racetrack slots casino has kept New York politicians in a bind for nearly eight years.
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