On Monday, the presenters who went before the state's new five person casino siting board to pitch why they should be granted one of four licenses were all men. They talked about how strong their financing was, how comprehensive their backgrounds with casinos in wide varieties of situations, from rural to hurt-urban.

Under legislation passed last year, and okayed by a state referendum in November, 2013, New York's planning to do some major regional economic development, and fill state coffers for everything from education to infrastructure upgrades, by choosing the best of sixteen standing applications.

The September 8 session was dominated by contenders for casinos in the Binghamton and Albany areas, with a few rural outliers in from Howe's Cavern and similar sites in Central New York. Tuesday, September 9, was when six big names in the casino world gave their pitches for why the state should spring a license for Orange County, closer to the City, as well as two big ticket Sullivan County prospects for the large site of the former Concord Hotel... and Ellenville's contender at The Nevele.

"We have the branding... it's a win-win for everyone," said reps from the Hard Rock empire, who are pitching a riverside casino with 100 rooms in Rensselaer, in sight of the state capital.

On Tuesday, it was all pretty much tough-talking men in suits, again. Those vying for Orange County slots showed graphics demonstrating the effectiveness of casino development dollars in larger urban areas. Meanwhile, the Mohegan Sun and Empire Resorts contenders for the Concord site outside of Monticello spoke about how their plans would be downsized, or made obsolete, if a site was granted in Orange County. It was noted how something at The Nevele could be used to create "a regional synergy."

The presenters for Ulster County's contender were halting in their presentations, compared to the men who came before and after them. The films they showed, including images of The Nevele in its 1950s and 1960s heyday and sites of the neighboring village today, played with light music in the background. Yet the two women, new Nevele CEO Angel Brunner and COO Kathy Meci, spoke of their deep backgrounds in large finance projects, gaming AND economic renewal projects effectively. Yet they also kept hammering away at the original intent of the gaming laws to revive the old Catskills, among other places.

In the films, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein spoke about economic realities, while Ellenville high school senior Brandon Lang talked about wanting a future. Instead of grilling the Nevele team about finances, which Brunner outlined succinctly — including the hundreds of millions she herself was bringing to the project — siting board members spoke about their own memories of The Nevele. And the applause afterwards was loud.

But so was the clapping after the folks from Empire, speaking about their casino as part of a larger Montreign regional tourist destination concept, also brought up that original intent for casino legislation as an aid to places like Monticello, where they'd been running the raceway for years.

"Does your name mean anything?" asked a siting board member.

The long answer mentioned research teams pulling together ideas, branding, and sustainability before the subject shifted to the effect an Orange County casino, even in Newburgh, would have on their investment package.

A shorter answer sufficed this time: They'd cut out their casino idea and drop the investment to a couple hundred million, tops.

Later, when representatives from gaming giant Genting, of Malaysia, were making their pitch for a massive casino in Tuxedo, near Sterling Forest, an offer was made straight out to "write you a check today" for $450 million, well over the actual asking fee for such things.

Everyone laughed. Then clapped.

Next up, three public hearings for the process will take place on Monday, September 22 in Albany, on Tuesday, September 22 at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, and on September 24 in Ithaca. The events start at 8 a.m. and run to 8 p.m., with about sixty speakers each allotted a maximum five minutes... and most slots already reserved.

As for a final decision, original talk was for early autumn, with the suggestion that it would come before the election. We'll see...