The location board for New York's casino facilities now has the final two members.

 Two new members were unanimously named by the New York State Gaming Commission today (January 27) to the board that will decide whether three casino businesses will receive downstate land-based casino licenses later this year.
 Times Square in New York City
 In a meeting today, retired real estate executive Greg Reimers and former US News & World Report DEI chief Marion Phillips III were chosen to serve on the New York Gaming Facility Location Board (NYGFLB).

 By December, the facility selection board will choose three downstate land-based casino licenses from a pool of eleven bidders.  There is intense competition for the licenses.  There are major gaming companies involved, including Bally's, Caesars, MGM, and Wynn.  Possible sites range from Times Square to existing sports stadiums and horse racetracks.

 Examining the board
 Phillips was previously Empire State Development's SVP for community relations in New York.  Reimers worked at JPMorgan Chase as a marketing manager and managing director.  At the Bank of New York, he also held the position of executive vice president.

 Brian O'Dwyer, chair of the gaming commission, stated in a press release that "the board's important work of selecting up to three casino proposals will have a lasting impact on our state and Mr Phillips and Mr Reimers have the expertise and experience to conduct thorough evaluations of the projects."

 Although it is required to have five members, the board has been functioning with just three.  Stuart Rabinowitz, a lawyer and former president of Hofstra University, and Vicki Been, a professor of law and public policy at NYU, were appointed on October 4, 2022.  On December 4, 2023, retired lawyer and certified public accountant Carlos P. Naudon was appointed.

 Last June, the three announced a schedule for the casino application process.  The commission must identify licensees by December 1st, and bids are due on June 27th.

 Additionally, the board established December 31 as the cutoff date for licensing fee collection from the chosen firms.  Local community advisory committees (CACs) are required to vote on bids upon their receipt.  The facility board can then receive "supplemental information" from bidders who have been vetted by a CAC.  When the bidding process concludes in June, CACs will be implemented.

 Monitoring the sweepstakes
 O'Dwyer also talked about the growth of unregulated gambling in New York, including sweepstakes.  O'Dwyer stated that commission officials are conducting background research to decide on the next course of action, even though the state has not yet taken any action.

 O'Dwyer expressed grave worries that these organisations are violating state law.  "I'll do all in my power to ensure that the law is respected if this behaviour persists and is determined to be against New York state gaming law.  It is a serious matter, and it is becoming increasingly so.

 When free play is over, gamers have the option to buy "coins" or "tokens" through sweepstakes, which typically attract customers by providing free-to-play games.  Most states, including New York, do not regulate the games.  According to the gambling industry, they are embezzling funds and earnings from licensed businesses that are legally regulated.