New York has approved three bids to open the state's first resort casinos.

Some 16 applicants had sought licenses after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in 2011 that he would seek to extend gambling in New York.

The state's electorate, who had previously only had access to slot parlours at race tracks and five tribal casinos, approved the expansion in 2013.

The successful bids were put forward by operators Empire Resorts, Wilmorite and Rush Street Gaming, with the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) opting not to award a fourth license despite having legal approval to do so as it sought to reduce the risk of market saturation.

Several major developers, including Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock and Mohegan Sun, were not successful in their bids.

"We have sought to select those proposals that would maximise prospects for sustained success and be in the best overall position for the state of New York," GFLB chairman Kevin Law said.

Empire, whose majority shareholder is Kien Huat, an investment company linked to Malaysia's Genting Grouo, has proposed a $630 million (€511 million) Montreign Resort Casino that would be situated in Sullivan County, just 90 miles from New York City. It would include a 391-room hotel, golf course, restaurants and entertainment rooms.

Wilmorite's 207-room Lago Resort & Casino is to be situated between Rochester and Syracuse, while Rush Street's 150-room Rivers Casino is close to state capital Albany.

It has been estimated that the casinos could generate upwards of $300 million for the state's treasury, with 5,000 jobs potentially being created.

Speaking ahead of the board's decision, Cuomo said: "We want to use the upstate casinos as a magnate to draw people from New York City upstate. We are trying to drive the upstate economy.

"The risk is all on the private sector and we have only upside."

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