NYGA Launches Statewide TV Campaign as New York’s School Year Begins
$550 Million – Enough for 12,255 Teachers – Already Generated in 2012
(Albany, NY) – The New York Gaming Association (NYGA) launched a new statewide TV campaign today to remind taxpayers that New York’s racetrack casinos are reliable partners for education as schools open for the new school year. The nine racetracks that make up the Association have contributed $3.4 billion to education since 2004 – including more than $550 million so far in 2012, according to the New York Division of the Lottery’s website – enough to fund the annual salaries of approximately 12,255 teachers.
“The New York Gaming Association is a reliable partner for New York’s education system and we are incredibly proud of our record of successfully providing for the state’s school children,” James Featherstonhaugh, President of the New York Gaming Association said. “Our racetrack casinos have been part of the communities they serve for generations, providing not only entertainment, but positively contributing to communities by helping to control property taxes and funding education. We are committed to helping New Yorkers, and the proof is in our record of success.”
The new ad campaign will be launched in eight TV markets, including New York City, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester, and will run for at least two weeks as students return to schools across New York. The spot can be viewed on NYGA’s website by clicking here: www.newyorkgaming.org and a transcript is below.
What do racetrack casinos mean for New York?
Reliable funding for our schools, which means lower property taxes for all of us.
New York’s racetrack casinos pay one of the highest tax rates in the country…contributing billions for New York schools.
Next year alone, they’ll provide $1 billion dollars for our schools — equaling the salaries of nearly 13,000 teachers.
A reliable partner for education… just as our kids head back to school.
New York’s racetrack casinos. The best choice for New York’s schools.
Last month, NYGA announced that its members, which operate at a tax rate of 68 percent, have generated $620 million in revenue for New York, according to statistics covering the first six months of 2012. That is nearly double the amount of revenue the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City casinos generated for their home states combined despite having full-fledged casinos.
In fiscal year 2011-2012, revenue generated by NYGA members for education was equivalent to the annual salaries of approximately 9,610 teachers. In addition to funding for education, NYGA contributes to the state and the communities in which their racetrack casinos are located. In the same fiscal year (2011-2012), NYGA members generated approximately $26 million in aid to struggling local governments. Since 2004, NYGA members have generated over $ 170 million in aid to support local governments.
New York Gaming Association members currently employ more than 5,500 New Yorkers and have, over their history, generated $3.4 billion for education, more than $170 million in aid for local governments and $735 million in support of the New York State racing & breeding industry, impacting family farms and preserving open space.
The New York Gaming Association is comprised of the nine racetrack casinos located at harness and thoroughbred racing venues throughout the state. NYGA members include; Resorts World Casino New York at Aqueduct Racetrack, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga Casino & Raceway, Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack, Empire Resorts/Monticello Casino & Raceway, Hamburg Casino at Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs Casino, Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel and Batavia Downs Casino.
More information on the New York Gaming Association is available at www.newyorkgaming.org
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