Tioga Downs is host to a 5/8 mile standardbred horse track as well as a small casino that offers up slot machines and electronic games. It is the embodiment of a standard New York racino, having just over 700 electronic machines and running harness races most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May to September. Like other similar casinos in New York, Tioga Downs started out only offering live horse races. It was never really all that successful, admittedly losing thousands of dollars per day during its first three years of racing.

In the early 2000’s, Tioga’s fate started to turn when a man named Jeffrey Gural began to lobby for the state’s approval of Video Lottery Terminals to be allowed on the premises. It took about 5 years, but eventually New York state approved the use of VLT’s and consequently Tioga was bought by Mr. Gural in 2006 after he partnered up with Nevada Gold and Casinos. It ended up selling for around $32 million, and they are still looking to expand (pending the state’s approval of opening a Vegas-style casino here).

The first race was held here in 1976, making it one of the newer horse tracks in upstate New York. Even though Tioga Downs opened its doors for the first race over 40 years ago, it ceased operations shortly thereafter because it wasn’t turning a profit. Tioga laid somewhat dormant, until it changed ownership and was renovated, finally re-opening as a racino in 2006. It is located about 200 miles north of New York City in a town called Nichols which is a few miles west of Binghamton. They currently do not offer table games, though it seems the owners are actively looking for the state’s approval on this matter.

Casino at Tioga Downs

For the time being, the casino at Tioga Downs is similar to other racinos in New York in the sense that table games are not allowed here. Instead they have table games available in electronic form which currently only includes virtual blackjack. Needless to say, you will not find much of a selection in regards to table games or even electronic table games. The casino floor at Tioga Downs is instead filled with Class II slot machines or Video Lottery Terminals. These types of machines have a lottery style system at their core, unlike those in other popular gambling towns like Las Vegas which use Random Number Generators.

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Since Tioga Downs only offers slot machines, they do have over 200 unique games which are spread across roughly 800 machines. This is smaller than most other casinos located in New York, though it appears they are looking to aggressively expand sometime in the near future. Plans include adding table games, more slots and a full resort with hotel. Their most recent proposal was shot down by the government in 2015, but new and improved plans have since been set forth. They even recently started to list job openings and dealer training courses on their website in anticipation of approval. Tioga even started on a massive expansion in 2015 which will make room for table games and more electronic machines.

Much like the New York lottery system, you must be just 18 to gamble here. The casino is also completely smoke-free and is opened from 9AM-2AM Sunday to Thursday and 9AM-3AM Friday and Saturday.

Racetrack at Tioga Downs

The racetrack at Tioga Downs, and it’s failure, are the main reasons behind the property becoming what it is today. When it first started running races as “Tioga Park,” management could never figure out how to turn a profit. This led to its inevitable shut-down, and Tioga Park would lay more or less unused for over 20 years. Seeing an opportunity, Jeffrey Gural; a local horse racing enthusiast and real estate mogul, decided that if he could put video lottery terminals inside the park that he would buy it. After being approved, he then got the track for a steal; $32 million. It was renamed “Tioga Downs” and began running races regularly again in 2006 after adding slot machines.

Today, Tioga Downs is among the most popular harness tracks in the country. The casino seems to have been a big draw for visitors in the surrounding areas, and they are trying to turn it into a full resort casino sometime in the future. Races are now held from May to September, generally at 1:30PM on Sundays and 6:30PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Restaurants and Bars at Tioga Downs

When visiting Tioga Downs, you’ll notice there are not too many dining options available. This can be somewhat disappointing, especially if you are used to Vegas-style casinos that have an abundance of restaurants. They currently have a buffet, pizza shop and a few sports bars. The main options are fast-food, quick-bite style restaurants. Much like other aspects of Tioga Downs, the proposed expansion will add more dining options when approved. For now, the current options are listed below.

– Country Fair Buffet
– Mr. G’s Post Time Pizza
– Carousel Bar
– Coasters Sports Bar
– Owega Soft Serve and Cafe Fiacca

Hotel at Tioga Downs

There is currently no on-site hotel at Tioga Downs, so you will have to choose from nearby options for the time being. Most of these hotels can be found just across the border in Pennsylvania. There have been some plans put forth by Tioga’s owner that are calling for an expansion which will add roughly 160 hotel rooms. He is awaiting the state’s approval on this however, and it is not entirely clear how long that will take. In the meantime, Gural is building additional facilities for more slot machines and leaving room for table games and a poker room in his newest $135 million expansion (2015). There have also been talks of a concert venue, more restaurants and an outdoor pool being added once he receives approval.

Tioga Downs Casino overview

What started in 2006 as a relatively small county-fair-themed Standardbred racetrack with 800 Video Lottery Terminals became New York state’s first officially licensed commercial casino when the new Tioga Downs Casino opened up in December 2016.

New York voters supported a constitutional amendment in 2013 authorizing the issue of a number of commercial gaming licenses throughout the state. A year later, licenses were granted to three projects, including:

• The del Lago Resort & Casino in Waterloo
• Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady; and
• The Montreign Resort and Casino in the Catskills

The Tioga Downs Racino was unsuccessful in its bid for a license. However, the organization successfully campaigned to re-open the bidding process and was granted a full gaming license later that year.

The New Tioga Downs Casino was the first to open up in December 2016 despite being the last of four licenses granted. The del Lago Resort & Casino was next, opening its doors on February 1, 2017. Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, NY opened up a week later. The Montreign Resort and Casino has plans to begin operating in the Catskills in the spring of 2018.

Tioga Downs Casino is located in Nichols, NY. This is halfway between Binghamton and Elmira. The gaming floor features a variety of popular slots and casino games, including:

• Blackjack
• Craps
• Roulette
• Pai Gow Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em
• Let It Ride
• 3-Card Poker
• 4-Card Poker
• Big 6 Wheel

Tioga Downs’ $134 million expansion

Tioga Downs Casino Hotel

Tioga Downs Casino began a $134 million expansion after being granted its commercial casino license. This ultimately saw the gaming floor expanded to 33,000 square feet. The casino now boasts almost 1,000 new slot machines and as many as 40 different table games.

The property’s Winner’s Circle Lounge was re-purposed as the casino’s new Poker Room. It opened with 12 tables and space for 120 players. The almost 800 VLTs on site were all replaced by up-to-date and modern slot machines including recently released titles and casino favorites.

Potential for online gambling lies in horse racing links

Tioga Downs Casino owner Jeff Gural is a former NY real estate mogul who has long professed his love for the horse racing industry. He has also expressed a desire to revive it through the addition of casino gaming at racetracks. In 2000, he successfully lobbied for New York state approval of Video Lottery Terminals at racetracks before buying the long-shuttered Tioga Park and installing 800 VLTs.

Despite being denied a license to operate a commercial casino at the property in 2014, Gural didn’t give up. He forced New York legislators to reconsider and add a fourth license just for Tioga Downs.

He released plans to build a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack in Northern New Jersey last year that was ultimately denied by New Jersey voters. However, Gural has continued to prove he is an industry leader when it comes to casino gaming at racetracks. Should he become convinced that online casino gaming could help the continued revival of the horse racing industry, there’s little doubt he would get behind it. He would likely also use his considerable political influence to get it done.

Plans to legalize online casinos aren’t on the agenda for New York legislators in 2018, but should that change, Gural isn’t likely to oppose it.

New York gaming goes step by step

Legislators in New York state have long taken a step-by-step approach to gaming expansion. It started with the opening of the Turning Stone Resort Casino in 1993. The race track industry, including Gural, then successfully lobbied to bring VLTs to a number of its properties. Saratoga Raceway became the first to do so in 2004. Racinos are now all over the state and many now host electronic table games as well, including the Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. It became the first casino-style property to open inside New York City’s five boroughs in 2011.

Next was the approval of the four new commercial casinos in the state. Now, legislators are taking steps towards the introduction of legal and regulated online poker. Should the next step be legalized and regulated casino games, Gural appears very likely to want to jump on board, seeing online gaming as an additional measure to help support the horse racing industry.

Online poker potential

Westchester Assemblyman and the State Assembly’s Chairman of the Committee on Racing and Wagering, J. Gary Pretlow, introduced legislation which would legalize and regulate online poker in the state of New York in early 2017. Pretlow claimed he sees very little standing in the way of such legislation. He also said all of New York’s licensed casino and Racino properties have indicated they are in full support of it.

Nonetheless, the bill went nowhere in the Assembly in 2017. The bill was still alive and in committee at the start of 2018.

This would presumably include Tioga Downs Casino, which opened up a 12-table live Poker room on the property in December 2016. Gural appears to have very little experience in the online poker industry. However, if he can become convinced that legislation allowing existing brick and mortar casino properties online poker operator licenses will be a boost to the horse racing industry, there’s little doubt he’ll get behind it.

More casino and track amenities coming soon

Tioga Downs Casino began construction of a 161-room hotel, spa and a 6,500 square foot event and banquet center in September 2016. It opened in October 2017.

There are already a half a dozen restaurant and bar options on the property. This includes:

• The County Fair Buffet
• Coasters Sports Bar
• The Sideshow Lounge
• Virgil’s Real BBQ

Both the Sideshow Lounge and Virgil’s Real BBQ feature live entertainment.

Tioga Downs Casino also offers a summer concert series at its outdoor stage.

The complex offers seasonal live harness racing and the casino floor is state of the art, featuring USB charging stations at many of the slots and gaming machine bases.

Tiago Downs Casino Online Play

Plans are also in place to open up and 18-hole golf course and country club off-site.

Tiago Downs Casino Online Game

Tioga Downs Casino offers patrons free entry into its Player’s Club. Player’s Club members are eligible to receive discounts on the property and rewards including complimentary concert tickets.

Points can be redeemed in:

• The gift shop
• Virgil’s Real BBQ
• Coasters Sports Bar
• The County Fair Buffet
• The Hotel (upon completion)