New York’s bid to award up to three licenses for full-fledged casinos, which would allow live table games and create more tax revenue for the state, advanced after officials unanimously voted to formally solicit applications, with an asking price of $500 million for each license.

The board will review each application and consider several factors, including how many jobs a prospective operator plans to create, how much revenue a casino expects to bring in, and a commitment to contract with minority and women-owned business enterprises.

This news has generated interest from several groups seeking to open a Casino in the City. These are the alleged locations at the moment: Coney Island, Times Square, Yonkers, and Queens, with the New York Mets owner Steve Cohen who expressed interest in building a casino next to the team’s home stadium of Citi Field.

(source: gothamist.com picture: Carl Raw)