The lucrative prize of a New York City casino remains off the table for now, but some gambling interests would still take a chance under new legislation that would allow four upstate casinos.

New York lawmakers are poised to vote as early as Friday on a measure that would authorize Las Vegas-style resort casinos in three areas: the Catskills-Hudson Valley region, the Southern Tier near Binghamton and the Albany-Saratoga Springs corridor. The New York City area would be off-limits for seven years to give the upstate resorts time to build business.

Nothing can happen unless voters in November approve an amendment to the state constitution allowing full casinos on on-Indian land. But there are three old hotel sites in the Catskills that could end up in contention for a license.

(AP)