This whole casino thing intrigues me more and more. It seems like the politicians from what I am taking from the article from the NY POST is that they want to speed up the process of the bidding. In doing so, it also seems like it would put a few roadblocks in the way of the Metropolitan Park that Hard Rock and Steve Cohen are trying to put together in Flushing. This makes the legal hurdling of trying to get the tax payers parkland to be transferred over to private hands of Steve Cohen.
From The NY POST-
Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) are pushing a proposed law in the waning days of the state legislative session that would require bids to be submitted by July 31 of this year and the gaming commission to approve the three casino licenses by March 31 of next year.
The state gaming commission recently announced that the casino licenses wouldn’t be awarded until Dec. 31, 2025, triggering denunciations including from a top Sands casino official who wants to open a gaming facility at the Nassau Coliseum hub in Uniondale, LI.
Some industry sources say the more drawn-out timetable benefits bidders facing political resistance or ongoing zoning or land-use issues.Meanwhile, sources say the proposed faster time frame boosts the chances of existing slots parlors — Resorts World at Aqueduct race track and MGM Empire City at Yonkers raceway — who want to obtain a license.Both entities already have facilities and would merely have to expand to offer live card table games.
Addabbo and Pretlow insist they’re not putting their thumb on the scale to favor anyone.
Other casino plans include SL Green/Caesars/Roc Nation bid for Times Square, Bally’s at Ferry Point in The Bronx, Silverstein Properties in Hell’s Kitchen, and the Thor Equity consortium gaming facility complex along the Coney Island boardwalk.
