Nassau County policymakers overwhelmingly permitted a lease accord that might pave the way in which for Las Vegas Sands to construct a on line casino lodge on the Coliseum website in Uniondale, NY.
Nassau Coliseum. Nassau County legislators permitted a plan for Las Vegas Sands to lease land there to develop a on line casino lodge. (Picture: LongIsland.com)
In a late Monday vote, the Republican-controlled Nassau County legislators voted 17-1 in favor of granting Sands a 99-year lease to develop county-owned land on the Nassau Hub website. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) was the lone dissenting vote, whereas Democratic Minority Chief Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) abstained, citing a possible battle of curiosity.
Sands revealed in January that its quest for a New York Metropolis-area gaming license can be centered on Nassau County. The operator has since pitched a $4 billion built-in resort in Uniondale. Final month, the county’s planning fee and the legislature’s Guidelines Committee signed off on the lease settlement, setting the stage for the broader legislature to listen to the matter.
Earlier this yr, Sands moved to amass management of as much as 80 acres on the Nassau Coliseum website.
Vital Step, however Lengthy Highway Forward
LVS CEO Robert Goldstein famous the legislature’s approval is a vital step in advancing the mission. However there’s extra work forward.
We’ve held over 300 group conferences and are happy with the widespread coalition we now have constructed with our new neighbors throughout Lengthy Island,” Goldstein mentioned in an interview with Newsday. “We’re grateful for the belief they’ve positioned in us and sit up for persevering with to collaborate with the group.”
From right here, the operator must garner extra assist from advisory and group teams, start an environmental impression research, and get the city of Hempstead to log off on varied zoning requests. That to-do listing doesn’t embody truly profitable one of many three gaming licenses New York regulators will ultimately award.
It’s extensively believed two licenses are already spoken for by MGM’s Empire Metropolis On line casino in Yonkers in Westchester County and Resorts World New York in Queens. There’s additionally hypothesis that Sands is the chief for the third allow. The time line for the state’s announcement of the winners is at the moment the supply of appreciable debate.
Sands Dedicated to Lengthy Island
On the Monday legislature assembly, varied teams spoke in opposition to and for the Sands on line casino mission, highlighting a divide evident in current months.
Nonetheless, there may be bipartisan assist for the mission, as proven by the Monday vote. Former New York Gov. David Patterson, a Democrat and a Sands lobbyist, endorsed the mission, as did Republican Nassau Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves.
Sands can also be making a big monetary dedication to Nassau County. The corporate is on the hook for a $54 million cost to the county, no matter whether or not or not it wins a gaming license.
Ought to the operator get the go-ahead to develop the on line casino resort, native supporters anticipate the venue to emphasise conventions, eating, leisure, and spas over gaming.
