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Point Place, a $40 million casino in central New York near Syracuse, opens March 1. Here's some photos of the new facility provided by the Oneida Indian Nation. Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau

A photo of the new interior entrance of the Point Place Casino in Bridgeport, Madison County, which opens March 1, 2018.(Photo: Oneida Indian Nation)

ALBANY - Make it 20 casinos in New York.

The newest will open Thursday in central New York called Point Place Casino.

The $40 million facility in Bridgeport, Madison County, is about 15 miles from downtown Syracuse and is the third owned in the area by the Oneida Indian Nation.

The Oneidas already own the sprawling Turning Stone casino in Verona and the smaller Yellow Brick Road in Chittenango.

Here's what to know about the new addition to New York's crowded casino landscape:

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What will it have?

Point Place will open its doors to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday, making it the 20th casino or racetrack with video-lottery terminals in New York.

It is a 65,000-square-foot, smoke-free facility with about 500 slot machines and 20 table games.

That's relatively small: The $1.2 billion Resort World Catskills that opened Feb. 8 in Sullivan County has 2,151 slots and 112 table games.

But the Oneidas are looking to retain customers in a highly competitive gambling region.

Figure it as another regional casino.

"Point Place Casino derives its name from its picturesque location on Oneida Lake surrounded by a number of the area’s beloved lake points," the Oneidas said in a news release.

"The venue’s ideal setting and its rustic, woodland ambiance mirror the unique spirit and style of Bridgeport and the surrounding community."

What to expect?

You won't have to move much if you're at one of the Point Place slot machines.

There will be a beverage-ordering system and phone-charging ports on the slot machines, as well as self-serve beverage stations and large-screen TVs on the gaming floor.

It will also have five restaurants and cocktail lounges.

They will include "Burgers of Madison County and "Wicked Good Pizza," which is the Oneidas already have at the other two casinos.

It will have "Opals Confectionary," which is also at the Turning Stone, and "The Paddle Bar" and "Fireside Lounge."

And yes, you can use your Turning Stone rewards cards at the new casino so you can earn points for food and attractions.

The opening day will include entertainers, free plays, dining credits and a "ceremonial log-cutting."

Why now?

The Oneidas moved quickly to open new facilities after the state in 2014 granted a casino license to del Lago in the Finger Lakes, which is a one-hour drive west.

It opened the $20 million Yellow Brick Road in June 2015 and then announced plans last year for Point Place -- which will be the 10th casino between Batavia and Albany.

Del Lago underperformed in its first year; now it will have more competition.

Also, Vernon Downs, which has video-lottery terminals, has struggled because of the added venues.

It is just seven miles from Turning Stone, and last year received a bailout from the state to stay afloat.

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