A Lengthy Island lawyer that helps Las Vegas Sands’ efforts to construct a $6 billion built-in resort on the website of Nassau Coliseum inspired Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to approve laws that may speed up the bidding course of for 3 downstate on line casino licenses — one thing the governor hasn’t signaled she’ll do.
Nassau County, New York on a map. An area lawyer says Gov. Kathy Hocul (D-NY) must expedite the on line casino bidding course of. (Picture: CBS New York)
In an op-ed for Lengthy Island Enterprise Information, Joshua Liebamn, a accomplice at Rosenberg Calica Birney Liebman & Ross LLP in Backyard Metropolis, NY, opined that the saga of “Ready for Kathy” is stalling the method by which gaming corporations can bid for the trio of downstate permits.
In Might, Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) proposed payments of their respective chambers that if signed into legislation by Hochul, would have opened the bidding window for the New York Metropolis-area licenses as quickly as Aug. 31. With that date simply 16 days away, the governor hasn’t proven any intent to signal the laws.
Press reviews counsel that her workers by no means requested for the invoice to be despatched to her workplace for overview, a lot much less for her approval or, for that matter, a veto. Slightly, there seems to have been a acutely aware choice to disregard the proposed invoice and, by doing so, push a regulatory choice far into subsequent yr,” wrote Liebman.
The Addabbo/Pretlow effort might pave the best way for selections to be made on the three winners of the on line casino licenses by the center of subsequent yr. With out, that course of might drag properly into late 2025 or past.
NYC On line casino Course of Lengthy Derided
In his op-ed, Liebman clearly famous that neither he nor his agency have any relationship with Sands nor have they got monetary pursuits within the operator’s Lengthy Island enterprise. The lawyer believes the gaming venue might be a driver of financial progress for Nassau County.
He’s, nevertheless, the newest in an more and more lengthy line of commentators, specialists, and gaming trade observers which have criticized the method by which New York is making an attempt to award the three downstate on line casino permits with a lot of that derision stemming from lack of motion.
“If Rick’s on line casino within the film ‘Casablanca’ had been ready for Governor Hochul’s administration to situation it an working license, the amoral French Captain Renault would have died of previous age lengthy earlier than being offered together with his winnings,” wrote Liebman.
Hochul has constantly stated she’s circuitously concerned in how and to whom the licenses shall be awarded, however some New York political specialists consider there are apparent hyperlinks between the New York Gaming Fee (NYGC), the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, and political entities.
Sands On line casino May Enhance Nassau County Financial system
Owing to the sluggish tempo at which New York regulators are shifting, there’s nothing greater than hypothesis relating to which of the greater than 10 bidders will win the three downstate on line casino licenses. Nonetheless, the Sands plan is broadly seen as one of the viable.
Not solely is the operator one of many largest gaming corporations on this planet, it’s already making vital investments within the surrounding group. Plus, Nassau Coliseum is near Manhattan, however doesn’t a gaming venue on the Coliseum doesn’t pose a site visitors risk to the already extremely congested borough.
For his half, Liebman believes the LVS on line casino resort might jumpstart Nassau County’s native economic system whereas paying dividends over the long-term.
“This governor and her on line casino siting board want to acknowledge what the enterprise group has lengthy recognized. Delay is as a lot a choice as definitive motion,” concluded the lawyer. “Our area’s economic system can’t be permitted to be deferred into oblivion. The on line casino choice must be issued ‘letters of transit’ and permit it to satisfy its financial potential.”
