While there hasn’t been much movement in the slow and steady not-race for the New York State Gaming Commission to award a trio of downstate casino licenses, that doesn’t mean the Empire State is bereft of gambling news.

Let’s get started with this: If you thought the war between New Jersey and New York ended when Tony Soprano and Butchie DeConcini made their peace (or did they?!) — think again.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress this week, Mark Giannantonio, the president of Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City and president of the Casino Association of New Jersey called the idea of a downstate New York casino – never mind a trio of them – a “threat” to Atlantic City’s gambling industry, according to NorthJersey.com, especially if one them ends up in Manhattan. (There are currently five would-be Manhattan bidders.)

“They’re going to be Las Vegas-style massive properties and they will generate new business — of course people coming up from South America, Europe, Asia,” Giannantonio told reporters after speaking on a panel. “It’s also going to impact eastern Pennsylvania, Atlantic City, Connecticut.”

Speaking of The Sopranos …

Salvatore “Sal the Shoemaker” Rubino pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this week to running an illegal gambling business and handing over the profits to the Genovese crime family, according to a New York Post report. 

He admitted to having gambling machines in the back of his since-shuttered Sal’s Shoe Repair in Merrick, as well as running three weekly poker games.

According to federal prosecutors, Rubino, along with Joseph “Joe Box” Rutigliano, would collect the money and hand it off to high-ranking officers in the Genovese crime family.

Elsewhere in Long Island

One existing casino isn’t waiting to see what happens with the New York State Gambling Commission; they’re pushing through an expansion.

Jake’s 58, located off exit 58 of the Long Island Expressway, is about to undergo a $210 million facelift that will double the gaming terminals to 2,000 and triple the number of parking spaces, according to a CBS news report.

Revenue is expected to increase 42% as a result of the upgrades.

“We are one of only two government-owned casinos in the United States. All of our profits go to the New York State Education Department for schools, and to Suffolk County,” said Phil Boyle, president of Suffolk OTB. 

“We are going to be spending that money. We are going to be reinvesting in the county, reinvesting in our infrastructure,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said.

There will also be new bars, restaurants, and conference spaces as part of the upgrades.

Photo: Getty Images

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