Foes sue to block gambling expansion

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Anti-gambling forces announced today they're filing a lawsuit challenging legislation approved last year by Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature authorizing one of the largest expansions of gambling in the state's history.

The legislation allows for the addition of up to six Indian-owned casinos in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region and in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City. It also allows video lottery terminals at horse racing tracks across the state and permits New York to join multistate lotteries.

The gambling opponents involved in the lawsuit, including two state legislators and the head of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, have said the legislation violates provisions of the state constitution.

"This is not unexpected," Pataki spokesman Michael McKeon said. "We're confident we'll overcome every legal challenge."

McKeon said the legislation was "carefully crafted" to withstand such legal challenge and was meant to bring jobs to economically hard-hit areas of upstate New York.

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