New York fills casino licensing board with two more members as competition heats up

The New York State Gaming Commission on Monday appointed two new members to the panel responsible for awarding three downstate casino licenses, finalizing the five-member board as competition among major gambling operators intensifies.  

Marion Phillips III, a former diversity and community relations executive, and Greg Reimers, a retired real estate executive, were unanimously approved for the New York Gaming Facility Location Board (NYGFLB). The board is set to choose three licensees from 11 bidders by December.  

Phillips was previously the SVP for community relations at New York’s Empire State Development and former head of DEI for US News & World Report. Reimers was a managing director and marketing manager at JPMorgan Chase, and was also an executive vice president at the Bank of New York.

“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,” Gaming Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer said.

The new licenses have drawn interest from industry giants including Bally’s, Caesars, MGM, and Wynn. Proposed casino sites range from existing racetracks to major entertainment hubs like Times Square.  

The board now has its full five members, with the new appointees joining Chair Vicki Been, Stuart Rabinowitz, and Carlos P. Naudon, who had been overseeing the process.

Key dates in the selection timeline include June 27, when casino bids are due, and December 1, when licensees will be announced. By December 31, the selected companies must pay their licensing fees. Before final decisions are made, Local Community Advisory Committees (CACs) will review and vote on each bid.
 
During the latest meeting, O’Dwyer also raised concerns over unregulated sweepstakes gambling, which allows players to buy virtual “coins” or “tokens” for use in games that mimic casino play.  

"I have serious concerns that these groups are running afoul of state law," O’Dwyer said. "If this activity continues and is found to be in violation of New York gaming law, I will do everything I can to make sure the law is upheld."