ALBANY, NY — While Sen. John Bonacic represents a large portion of Orange County, he does not believe one of the four casinos that will be licensed in the state this year should be located in that county. In a video posted on his website, he said the single casino, or two casinos if it comes to that, should be located in Sullivan or Ulster or both.

He said the fact that a license to operate a casino in Orange County would cost some $20 million more than to operate one in Sullivan or Ulster, which are poorer with high unemployment, is a “signal to the applicants out there—it’s going to be more expensive and it’s going to be harder for you if you want to locate one in Orange County, and they [the New York State Gaming Commission] said clearly, if there’s not home rule local support, forget about it.”

He continued, “I know in Southern Ulster and Sullivan County there is widespread support for casinos, so I know that component is not going to be a problem.