ALBANY-Faced with competition from New Jersey and Connecticut, the Empire State is placing its chips on the gaming industry. The New York State Legislature has introduced a landmark agreement to begin the process of amending the state’s constitution to legalize casino gambling, a move that could spur new commercial real estate development throughout the state – just not in Manhattan.

Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and assembly speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) have opposed the development of casinos in the borough, citing that casinos should be used as “regional redevelopment” tools in other areas of the state, media reports show.

Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, tells GlobeSt.com that while casinos ultimately create some jobs and activity where they are located, he is undecided if it makes sense to add casinos within the city.