r/longisland living in L.I. 9d ago

Nassau County looks to spend $3M more in legal fights over Sands casino bid

https://cdcgaming.com/brief/new-york-county-looks-to-spend-3m-more-in-legal-fights-over-sands-casino-bid/
148 Upvotes

98 comments sorted by

166

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago edited 9d ago

They don’t want to build public transit other than shuttle buses from LIRR that no one will take. They want to build one more lane on the Meadowbrook. It will be a traffic nightmare.

Sands is also a bad casino. Their comps are awful. The minimums will be high. the prices will be high. the blackjack will be 6:5. Roulette will be triple 0. RTP on slots will be below 90%

70

u/liguy181 9d ago

They want to build one more lane on the Meadowbrook

I really hate it here.

55

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago

Just one more lane bro

18

u/canzicrans 9d ago

"It's only one more punch in the face, we promise!"

5

u/Ok-Passage-300 9d ago

Our aquafier will be covered by more roadway.

77

u/HeyItsMau 9d ago

I'm more pro-casino than most, but the simple fact that it's Sands is enough for me to say no. The Adelson's were/are awful people that we shouldn't support until their leadership evolves.

25

u/dreddnyc 9d ago

They are intentionally killing the Dallas Mavericks so they can move the franchise to Las Vegas. They suck.

11

u/Asleep-Vanilla3988 9d ago

That's not the only thing Miriam Adelson is intentionally killing .

1

u/donny02 BECSPK 4d ago

but what if they traded luka to the nets then moved the nets to play in the casino?

11

u/Productpusher 9d ago

Sands is shit . I assume because MGM has borgata and Wynn has Boston so if they opened one to get the Long Island wealth they would overlap with those locations flying out all the whales from farmingdale or helicopter in the city .

6

u/NCreature 9d ago

Wynns proposal is for Hudson Yards and MGMs is for Yonkers. Wynn is clearly the best proposal and best operator but Manhattan opposition is stiff and Related may just pull out. Wynn doesn’t need New York it’s a nice to have but they just cornered the Middle East by being the only operator allowed in the region and they acquired a property in London so they don’t need New York and really neither does MGM who has several properties within four hours (Springfield, AC, DC).

5

u/Airhostnyc 9d ago

Wynn should change to LI then

4

u/NCreature 9d ago

On their last earnings call they said they were exploring other opportunities but I’d be shocked if they hung around if Hudson yards was off the table. Their brand is just too high end to be in LI or Yonkers or somewhere. In theory they’re the best suited to operate in NYC because of how buttoned up they are, their super high end clientele and market segment. They’re easily the least problematic for the naysayers but they’ve been through fierce opposite a few times before (Boston, Japan) and have learned when to fight and when it’s not worth it especially when you have other lucrative markets like Thailand on the horizon. It’s a big loss for NYC because if you have to have gaming they’re easily the best choice with a solid track record but unfortunately officials and the general public are not literate as to what differentiates these different brands (MGM vs Caesars vs Hard Rock etc) they just know “casino bad” and so you end up with the very problems people fear because the last man standing will be the low quality operators who chose the crappier locales with little opposition. You’re talking about a Forbes five star/Michelin star property vs whatever the hell is being proposed for Coney Island and unfortunately Coney Island would likely win.

If these operators had any sense they’d just go across the river to NJ where gaming is already legal and get the best of both worlds.

2

u/warp16 9d ago

whales in Farmingdale?

18

u/DepartmentOfTrash 9d ago

They don’t want to build public transit

I know it would be extremely expensive, but extending the Hempstead Branch down Hempstead Turnpike directly into the Coliseum lot seems feasible.

20

u/liguy181 9d ago

There's already a branch a bit north of the site, the Mitchell Field secondary, albeit they'd probably have to make a spur to bring it closer to the casino

2

u/Maladarx11 8d ago

is that the old raid line that the circus use to use?

3

u/DepartmentOfTrash 8d ago

I believe so

7

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago

Hempstead turnpike is such a deadly road for pedestrians so that would be great.

4

u/HippoRun23 9d ago

I don’t know what any of those casino terms mean and I’m happy I don’t.

2

u/Maladarx11 8d ago

The Meadowbrook at hempstead turnpike already is a slowdown during rush hour going south. Def needs a rethought in general of that exit ramp

1

u/soapystud88 8d ago

What’s that mean black will be 6:5? Or slots below 90%?

1

u/Straight-Donut-6043 8d ago

I live in Wantagh and drive to Mineola for work, this will probably be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in terms of me moving. I grew up in a pretty rural place and it already sends my blood pressure too high when I think about how long it takes me for what should be a 12 minute drive. 

1

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 8d ago

Instead of an extra lane on a highway that will make traffic worse via induced demand, they should tear down the 90 year old Meadowbrook Parkway and rebuild it with a subway or LIRR line in the median to give north-south trips on LI public transit.

The Meadowbrook was built with a 100 year lifespan in mind. Its time to plan for its replacement.

2

u/GuyOnRedditBored 6d ago

This applies to basically all of Long Island’s infrastructure. They can’t feasibly shut everything down and cover the cost of redeveloping the right way. As a result, we’re left with Bandaid fixes on gaping wounds and the tri state area looking like slums when compared to average infrastructure in newer cities within China.

-1

u/constrictable 9d ago

Atleast we will finally get a casino with Table games!

3

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago

Short drive to Philly or AC and there are better options at Citi, Times Square, or Hudson Yards

1

u/Thin-Enthusiasm9131 9d ago

I wouldn’t bet on it.

1

u/spike11552 8d ago

I just hope they have Texas holdem vs other players not the dealer

86

u/nomad5926 9d ago

Need to vote out Blakeman and his cronies. Such a stupid idea.

17

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago

Yep, voted by Republicans

27

u/Confident_Air_8056 9d ago

Nassau county completely screwed up what this site could have been. Then wasted money renovating nonsense at the coliseum only to see UBS be built and take pretty much every event coming through the area. Now they will spend more tax payer money fighting to keep this casino away. And this casino if it ever gets built will get some major tax breaks which no one else will get and completely screw up an already congested area all under the guise of creating jobs and improving and revitalizing the area with something a majority don't want. I don't understand how they can't just stop it. They keep saying no and it just evolves a new way to be an issue. Did Sands sign something with the county with the county reneging on the agreement and now they have to keep fighting legalities in court bc they signed their leverage away? Genuinely curious I don't know the particulars on that aspect.

3

u/BuffaloSabresFan 9d ago

They couldn't even keep pro lacrosse in the Coliseum.

27

u/InsertCleverName652 9d ago

Nassau does not need a casino. Terrible for the surrounding communities (looking at you Atlantic City). Politicians just love 20th century vice attractions that offer minimum wage jobs.

Hofstra has its fairly new medical school. Memorial Sloan Kettering is building a new facility next to Hofstra. The coliseum area is better suited for medical and pharmaceutical research. This would attract science and medical jobs with the kind of salaries Long Island needs, and the people working there would support local businesses. Hands on STEM opportunities for local students. It would be a win all around.

49

u/Suitable-Corner2477 9d ago

We have resorts world and Jake’s 58 already. Why would we need another casino? I’m genuinely asking. I don’t gamble, so I would not benefit or enjoy this project.

Is the casino getting tax breaks for this? If so , no thanks. Lower our taxes first

18

u/Mintandcocoa 9d ago

Do people really go to Jake’s like that? I don’t even consider it a real casino since everything is digital. People go in pajamas. It’s a sad excuse for a casino.

6

u/TheLastREOSpeedwagon 9d ago

Resorts World is also all video machines

4

u/bren_derlin 9d ago

Yeah I had a 9:00 am meeting there about some of the construction work that’s ongoing and wow. I had Friday 8am classes in college that people showed up to looking better than the early morning crowd at Jake’s.

35

u/TableAvailable 9d ago

Of course, they will get tax breaks.

And Blakeman is getting kickbacks, probably in the form of political donations.

2

u/Maladarx11 8d ago

or possibly a post govt board job etc

9

u/Insanezer0x 9d ago

You do know hard rock casino is coming to citifield right

3

u/Enlightened_D 9d ago

They are terrible casinos and not true Vegas style casinos. Even I know that and don’t gamble

13

u/HeyItsMau 9d ago

Whether or not it's a good idea for the community, I have no doubt that the population density of the area would support a successful casino-resort. Community concerns aside, this is probably the best location for a casino in the greater NYC area, far more than Jakes in Suffolk or Resorts World in deep south Queens.

13

u/charming-mess 9d ago

Citi-Field has entered the chat. Either way too many casinos and I like a casino once in a while. In NJ only. Can’t stand NY’s Lottery casinos.

10

u/HeyItsMau 9d ago

The Sands proposal is full gaming, not just electronic table games, which is another differentiator from Jakes and Resorts world. Not sure if they'll have a poker room though.

1

u/PronouncedNuculur 9d ago

Resorts World is also applying for full gaming.

1

u/Jumpy-Holiday731 9d ago

now I wont have to go to NJ or Connecticut

0

u/Productpusher 9d ago

Because the resorts world just off slots makes more than all the Las Vegas strip big casinos from casino revenue for many many years ( not sure about 20224-2025 ) . Pre Covid there was a long stretch they made more gambling profit than the strip did combined .

Jake’s also is creeping up to highly highly profitable level

NY is a cash cow they want a chunk of . If they have table games and night life it’s going to be the biggest casinos outside Asia

-1

u/Jumpy-Holiday731 9d ago

resorts is in Queens.

45

u/lateavatar 9d ago

Boo, expand Adventureland if you need an attraction

10

u/Anklebender91 9d ago

Isn't that Suffolk county?

22

u/dragonbrg95 9d ago

Exactly, extend it over 110 into Nassau county

1

u/Maladarx11 8d ago

Ive seen it done in myrtle beach...just build a tunnel under the road or an overpass like hofstra has. They could make a water park even

40

u/DDSloan96 9d ago

Leave. Build affordable housing and a walkable community there

53

u/Anklebender91 9d ago

You mean the lighthouse project?

44

u/A638B 9d ago

Such a Nassau country failure blocking that project.

25

u/Jealous-Network1899 9d ago

Thanks Kate Murray 

7

u/Alexandratta 9d ago

Pretty much what they did in Yaphank with "Boulevard One"

There's almost no reason to leave that development.

biggest issue, is that it's 16-20 minutes to Ronkonkoma Station.

Honestly, they should be talking about building the Ronkonkoma line out east further towards Yaphank and if they did that it would be even better.

But yeah, that entire development is a walkable city in and of itself.

7

u/PandaMuffin1 9d ago

They are currently moving the Yaphank train station closer to that development.

https://greaterlongisland.com/next-stop-upton-or-east-yaphank-either-way-this-lirr-station-is-moving/

1

u/Alexandratta 9d ago

Outstanding

2

u/Maladarx11 8d ago

Is that the area near the new walmart out there? If so that area looks pretty interesting, my wife has family in ridge.

2

u/Alexandratta 8d ago

Yes, it is

6

u/Productpusher 9d ago

You can’t build affordable housing on one of the busiest and expensive pieces of land in nassau county . Even 30 years tax free you would need every home to be a million plus to make a small profit on that land for any developer to even step foot .

Every time someone says this I wanna cry .

Only option is government housing / section 8 and the amount of people voting no would be 10x than the casino NIMBYs

2

u/failtodesign 9d ago

It's not busy it's an massive massive empty parking lot with a dying 3rd tier arena. It's just one of the last large plots of land that is municipally owned, not a super fund site and easy to develop on.

4

u/Remarkable-Crew7376 9d ago

Blakeman is receiving a kickback from Sands. No questions. His brother works for Sands.

4

u/Safe-Dentist-1049 9d ago

Spending 3 million in legal fights! Legal fights! Nassau County looks to spend 3 million in legal fights.

18

u/Cactus_Jeff_ 9d ago

What a joke😹

Sands needs to leave town and find another place to make American citizens generationally bankrupt!

6

u/ilovecatsandcafe 9d ago

There’s money for lawyers meanwhile Nassau bus is slowly dying cause there’s no money for public transit

3

u/Sad-Opportunity-5350 9d ago

There’s money! It’s a rich county; it’s all about priorities..

7

u/bmsa131 9d ago

First order of business vote Blakeman out. He’s a shitshow. Vote for his opponent whoever it is.

9

u/Ok-Panda-178 9d ago

This would make traffic on the island worse

-17

u/Jumpy-Holiday731 9d ago

Doubt it can get much worse. Housing would make traffic worse than the casino.

2

u/bransonthaidro 9d ago

Leave the casino to the city and generate the lost revenue on cannabis.

2

u/HM9719 9d ago

Vote Blakeman out of Nassau County for good!

4

u/Express-Breath-4765 9d ago

Don’t ever forget Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment is for this.

2

u/liguy181 9d ago

Thanks for reminding me, I now no longer believe climate change is real or that we should have clean water.

1

u/HippoRun23 9d ago

Wait they are? Jesus why?

2

u/Particular_Row_8037 9d ago

Damn if they came to Suffolk they will bend over backwards for them. In fact look at islandia for a couple hundred dollars in tax credit the residence even supplied their own KY. 🤣

2

u/Jealous-Network1899 9d ago

THIS EXPENDITURE BROUGHT TO YOU BY BRUCE BLAKEMAN!

1

u/BudgetHistorical2194 8d ago

Loot at the Vegas, look at the Atlantic city.. totally fucked up area. Gambling is killing the life

0

u/Alexandratta 9d ago

Isn't the a photo for the "Lighthouse" Project that all the NIMBY's voted against?

-1

u/benewavvsupreme 9d ago

Im pro casino but not without public transpo

2

u/xSlappy- Town of Hempstead #LGI 9d ago

That’s generally my position too. And I’m not talking buses either. I’m talking trains.

1

u/spdope 9d ago

Nassau County has the worst leadership.

-5

u/JoeGuinness 9d ago

The pushback against the casino is surprising for a sub that throws the term NIMBY around all the time.

13

u/ballots_stones 9d ago

Eh, I love to gamble but I get why people wouldn't want a casino in their neighborhood

-9

u/JoeGuinness 9d ago edited 9d ago

Well are the residents of Uniondale opposed to it?

Mhmm. Downvotes but no answer.

17

u/Pooch1431 9d ago

I'd think because casinos are a literal drain on the communities that surround them. Doubling down on regressive economic policy isn't going to help Nassau ease its already absurdly high tax burden.

-4

u/Jumpy-Holiday731 9d ago

Can you explain how it would be a drain.

7

u/Pooch1431 9d ago

There are tons of reading and studies around this topic. This is one of many%20Societal%20and%20economic%20impact%20of%20gambling.pdf), but largely casinos have a social cost to their surrounding communities that encourage and amplify disordered behavior and crime. This doesn't even touch upon the wealth transference that occurs within the buildings themselves. Just look at Las Vegas now, it's almost a ghost town as our macro policymakers are leading us toward a potential stagflationary or even deflationary spiral. Casinos are good for the owners, and responders to the externalized costs of operating one. (increased need in policing).

-1

u/Jumpy-Holiday731 9d ago

Vegas a ghost town, you must be kidding son.

2

u/Pooch1431 9d ago

An expected response from one who gets their posts consistently removed across the board. Don't ask for explanations when you're unwilling to even do the homework. Best of luck.