Casino operators who expect New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to expand gambling activity in the state shouldn’t hold their breath. MGM, as well as a few others, has begun a campaign to try and convince state lawmakers to allow it to enter the gaming market, but Cuomo isn’t ready to allow it to happen.

MGM wants to be given a full-scale gambling license for the Empire City Casino in Yonkers. There is a current moratorium on new casinos that doesn’t expire for another four years, but MGM doesn’t want to wait that long. It looks like it will have to, as Cuomo told reporters yesterday, “I am very skeptical about some casino deal put together by casino operators promising billions of dollars and everybody is happy.”

There are four casinos licensed to operate in upstate New York after voters agreed to allow the activity in 2013. A total of seven licenses were authorized by the voters, but the remaining three won’t be issued as long as the moratorium is in place, or as long as Cuomo is in office.

The upstate casinos have not been as productive as many anticipated and Cuomo is concerned that expanding the casino market in the state could have a negative impact on the existing venues. He explained, “Long term, you’re still hurting the long-term competitiveness of those upstate casinos.”