The Vista Hospitality Group has announced that it will no longer be submitting a bid to New York State for a full casino license. With the announcement, the number of groups vying for the license in the Southern Tier is now down to three, with Tioga Downs in Nichols, Traditions at the Glen in the Town of Union, and Rochester-based Wilmorite in Seneca County each still in the running. Officials for Vista Hospitality say that the reason for backing out is the number of other ventures the group is involved in, along with a slow start by Vista in the process. The mandatory application fee for any group across the state looking to obtain a license is $1 million, which is due on Wednesday. Vista had announced plans less than month ago of Binghamton Casino, a $120 million casino with 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, which would have been built either off the Brandywine Highway or at Binghamton Plaza. An official application, aside from the fee, will have to be submitted by June 30th, and selections for which groups will be obtaining licenses are expected to be made by the state sometime in the fall. A mandatory applicant conference is also being held next Wednesday in Albany.
