A panel has selected Sullivan, Schenectady and Seneca counties as sites for casinos in New York, deciding not to recommend a fourth.
The Gaming Facility Location Board's announcement Wednesday brings to an end a fierce competition among 16 developers and job-hungry communities for four casino licenses.
With its proximity to New York City, the Catskills and mid-Hudson Valley attracted the most interest, with nine bidders.
Voters last year authorized up to four casinos to be divided among three upstate regions: the Albany-Saratoga area, the Southern Tier-Finger Lakes region and the Catskills and mid-Hudson Valley.
The board's decision isn't the final step. Background checks and environmental reviews will be completed, and the licenses must be formally awarded by the state's Gaming Commission.
