There is a sign in the executive offices at Monticello Raceway counting down the days to Wednesday’s launch of gambling in the Catskills. That’s the day when video lottery terminals – about 1,800 of them – will be pressed into service at the track, which has seen a $27 million facelift.

The senior vice president of Mighty M Gaming, Cliff Ehrlich, is no stranger to Catskills entertainment. He previously ran the Pines Hotel in Sullivan County just as his parents and grandparents did before. His grandparents founded the famed hotel.

Ehrlich is excited about the new gaming, which will add anticipated big money to the economy. “The good thing about is that 61 percent of the money goes to education, the horsemen get another 7½ to 10 percent, the racetracks get about 20 percent,” he said. “It’s the start, gaming is finally in the area. It’s been 30 years that this area has been waiting for gaming.”

About 500 new employees are working at Monticello Raceway and have been trained in the art of customer service in the hospitality industry.

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