The initiative to establish a casino hotel in Nassau County, NY is effectively finished, with County Executive Bruce Blakeman stating earlier today that time has nearly run out for the county and Las Vegas Sands to identify an appropriate replacement to assume the bid. 

On April 23, Sands announced its exit from the casino competition in the New York City area, referencing possible competitive risks if the state were to legalize iGaming in the future. Blakeman's comments on Thursday, a supporter of the casino initiative for many years, are his initial recognition that there isn’t sufficient time to secure a different gaming firm to replace Sands. Submissions for the three downstate casino licenses are required by June 27.

"I think it’s very, very unlikely,” said the Nassau County executive in an interview with Newsday.

That remark was concerning the potential advancement of the Nassau County casino proposal. Sands had mentioned earlier that it was in the process of finding a partner with experience in iGaming and land-based casinos to take its place. Discussions to that effect were said to have taken place, but did not progress. 

 

Sands Will Explore Alternative Options in Nassau County 

Sands had earlier stated that the Long Island project wouldn't be financially feasible without a gaming element, but the operator might have shifted its stance — a change possibly influenced by the $54 million in payments made to Nassau County. 

The firm has taken steps to resolve land use concerns at the Coliseum location, recently publishing the findings of a final environmental impact study (FEIS). Blakeman informed Newsday that the county possesses a “Plan B” in which Sand will play a significant role. That could focus on the creation of a sports entertainment facility. 

Upon releasing the FEIS, Sands stated that the expense of creating a brand-new gaming facility at Nassau Hub surged to $7.6 billion, nearly twice its initial projection of $4 billion. Blakeman stated that the firm intends to put in “hundreds of millions of dollars” at the location. The finalization of the FEIS clears the path for the region to be transformed with or without a casino. 

This kind of revival can only happen with the zoning modifications Sands seeks, making the approval of these changes crucial for a location that has been underused for over ten years. Exploring non-gaming options for Nassau Coliseum is a viable way to secure community backing since it aligns with the desires of many Long Islanders who were against the casino proposal. 

 

New York Casino Scene Reduced to Eight 

With the Long Island proposal virtually finished, the pool of candidates for the three downstate casino licenses has been reduced to eight from 11. Sands departs from the competition alongside Wynn Resorts and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Bally’s quest for a gaming license in the Bronx could be jeopardized as well, unless lawmakers push forward parkland alienation legislation enabling that application to continue, though it's uncertain if that will occur in the upcoming three weeks. 

Recent events in New York may suggest that the conditions are favorable for MGM’s Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resorts World New York in Queens to secure two of three licenses, as momentum increases for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park plan. The proposal, supported by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, aims to introduce an additional casino in Queens.