Cuomo Craps Out On Latest Casino Mandate

I can't possibly be the only one annoyed at Governor Cuomo's latest mandate saying that local casinos can only operate at 25 percent capacity.

Turning Stone, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, and many other casinos in the Northeast have been operating for a while and they've been doing it quite well and safely.  Here in the Capital Region, many residents (as well as the casino workers themselves) sat and waited patiently for word on the fate of Rivers and the Saratoga Casino.   Finally, yesterday we got some good news when Cuomo announced that our local casinos can fire up the action starting on September 9th.

While that was definitely good news, why does it come with such limitations? I get the whole face mask and social distancing thing, but insisting that they operate on 25 percent capacity doesn't leave a whole lot of wiggle room. Does Cuomo expect us to wait in line as we secretly hope enough people lose their money and leave so that we can be let in?  The lines to get inside the casino are going to be ridiculous, not to mention the wait to get on a table once you're inside the casino.

I'm a gambler, mostly a poker player, and I've always had an affinity for casinos. For many players like myself, heading to the casino can be a spur of the moment thing.  Sometimes I'm jonesin' for a little action so I'll hop in the car and head to Rivers. The last thing I want to do is wait in line to gamble, and depending on the time of the day, it could be a long wait seeing that Rivers can only operate at 25 percent capacity.

I realize that pandemic rules are what they are, and we just need to deal with it, but New Yorkers have already made great sacrifices and by in large, we've proven that we know how to protect ourselves and others around us.  But Cuomo doesn't see it like that.  He treats the citizens of this state like we're children and while I do believe his heart is probably in the right place, his brain is in outer space.

Turning Stone has successfully operated for a while now without limiting its capacity, yet Rivers will be greatly reduced.  All of this comes on the heels of New York having really low rates of COVID-19 cases.

It's just another example of the Governor flexing his muscle.  He likes to give us a taste of something we crave, but we barely get a nibble before it's yanked away.

Thank you Mr. Cuomo for allowing us to have a little more action and excitement in our lives with the reopening of local casinos.  Maybe you can stand out in front of Rivers and deal a little Blackjack (socially distancing of course) to hold our interest while we wait to get in.

After all, New Yorkers have been dealing with your nonsense for months.