I don't think anything is definitely set in stone yet in terms of construction starting. IMO no live Class III gaming until mid-2006 the earliest.
Monticello and several other upstate racetracks added VLT's last summer. these are not "true" random slots like vegas and AC, rather they are dumb terminals linked to the NY Lottery network and programmed to pay out exactly 92% of all wagers. even the video poker machines are 'rigged' to yield favorable draws as needed to maintain accounting. doesn't mean it's bad to play for entertainment, but people should know in advance how the games work.
also note that the addition of racetrack VLT's are NOT directly related to the development of indian casinos in sullivan county. that is a separate pact between the racetracks and the state lottery, and will continue to run regardless of whether or not the Cayuga and Mohawk deals go through. the larger tracks run by NYRA such as Aqueduct and Belmont are also getting ready to add video lottery terminals, but not expanding to full casino gambling. this is the difference between Class II and Class III licenses.
as far as I know, the indian pacts are only slated to build in Sullivan County sites in Monticello, Thompsonville, Kiamesha Lake and two other locations on or around route 17. no other upstate locations which don't already exist have any deals to build.
the Times Herald-Record has created a special website section to cover the ongoing developments.
http://www.recordonline.com/news/spe...eports/casino/