22 Upstate NY Casino Proposals Submitted

Contenders hoping to win the right to open a casino in upstate New York include hometown business owners as well as gambling giants like Caesars, Genting Group and Foxwoods.

The state's Gaming Commission on Thursday released the names of organizations pitching 22 different casino proposals. Wednesday was the deadline for interested parties to pay a $1 million application fee.

Four casinos are authorized in three regions: the Albany-Saratoga region, the Catskills and the Southern Tier.

The Catskills attracted more than half of the bidders, with six proposals for Orange County, fifty miles north of New York City.

Voters endorsed a constitutional amendment that authorizes the casinos, which are intended to spur upstate tourism.

Complete applications are due June 30. A state panel will recommend its choices to the Gaming Commission.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)