Casino moving closer to opening
Resorts World Catskills, a casino scheduled to open in a matter of weeks, on Thursday was issued a temporary conditional certificate of occupancy by the town of Thompson.
The certificate paves the way for on-site employee training and relocation of some management offices to the new facility.
Empire Resorts’ Executive Vice President Charles Degliomini said getting closer to opening is a “surreal experience” given that securing state approvals for a casino took over two decades.
“Our entire staff is starting to move in and we are getting people familiar with the layout of the building and what elevators to use and what entrances to use and how to walk to their assigned posts, so it is all starting to gear up. It’s very exciting,” he said.
The casino/resort is slated to open in mid-February; however, no firm date has been announced.
Officials expect to draw guests from across the globe when the doors open.
The state granted Empire Resorts the only permit in the Mid-Hudson Valley/Catskills region to develop a Las Vegas-style casino some two years ago.
The same company will continue to operate its Monticello Casino and Raceway in nearby Monticello. That facility features harness horse racing and electronic gaming.