TYRE, N.Y. — A New York State Supreme Court judge has rejected the Finger Lakes Racing Board’s challenge to the state selecting Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County for a casino license.
The resort’s developer applauded the ruling.
The decision is “great news” for those supporting economic development in Seneca County and upstate New York, Thomas Wilmot, Sr., managing director of Lago Resort & Casino, contended in a statement issued Monday afternoon.
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Wilmot is chairman of Rochester–based Wilmorite Inc., the commercial real-estate development, construction, and management company that proposed the Lago Casino & Resort.
New York State Supreme Court Acting Justice James Ferreira issued a nine-page order that “squarely rejected” the Finger Lakes Racing Board’s attempt to challenge the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board’s decision to select Lago Resort & Casino for a license, according to the Wilmot statement.
“Acting Justice Ferreira ruled that the petitioner, ‘failed to establish that it has standing to commence this proceeding. As such, the petition must be dismissed.’ This ruling eliminates yet another roadblock for Lago Resort & Casino and reconfirms the integrity of the process that resulted in Lago’s selection,” said Wilmot.
However, it’s not the only legal matter facing the Lago development.
Wilmorite on July 13 announced it had suspended construction on the project following a July 10 court ruling that the Town of Tyre didn’t meet a requirement on its environmental finding on the project.
In the July 13 statement, Wilmot indicated that officials of Lago Casino & Resort “stand ready” to assist the Tyre and Seneca County leaders as they work through this process.
“We have every confidence that nothing involved in this judicially-mandated detour will negatively impact the ability of the New York State Gaming Commission to award a casino license to Lago within its announced timetable this fall,” Wilmot said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
