Schenectady, Two Others Awarded Casino Licenses

SCHENECTADY — It’s official — Schenectady is getting a casino.

The state Gaming Commission unanimously approved awarding a casino license to the Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady during a meeting Monday in New York City. Along with the planned $330 million attraction along the Mohawk River in Schenectady, the commissionalso OK’d licenses for Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Seneca County, and Montreign Resort Casino in Thompson, Sullivan County.

Mary Cheeks, who will be general manager of the Rivers Casino when it opens, said construction will begin on the casino immediately and take about 18 months. That means it could open its doors by the summer of 2017.

The casino — slated for the 60-acre old Alco site off Erie Boulevard — is a joint venture between Rotterdam developer the Galesi Group and Rush Street Gaming of Chicago.

“We already began some foundation work,” Cheeks said during a phone interview Monday evening. “We’re staying well within the 24-month time frame, but it will be [opening] sooner than that. The financing is in place and all we were waiting for was the license.