Post Standard
New York’s nine racetrack casinos — or “racinos” — took in $1.8 billion last year, according to the first-ever New York Gaming Association’s annual report.
The report says that $823 million of that money went to schools and that the casinos had a total employment of 6,000 people.
“Our nine existing facilities are tremendous economic assets that should be nurtured and developed,” association President James D. Featherstonhaugh said in a statement.
Revenues also grew by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2013 over the same time period last year, the association said.
Central New York has two racetrack casinos, Vernon Downs Casino in Vernon and Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack in Farmington.
Vernon Downs took in $43.7 million, according to the state Lottery Division, which oversees the video gaming machines at the racetracks.
The annual report also said that the nine casinos:
— Have a combined 17,000 gaming machines.
— Pay an average salary of $34,000 a year
— Indirectly generate 11,000 jobs
— Have a $1.7 billion impact on the state’s economy.