The Sands New York casino project proposed for Long Island once again received approval to use Nassau Coliseum land if state gaming officials approve the developer’s license. In nearly unanimous votes on Aug. 5, the Nassau County Legislature transferred the coliseum’s lease to Las Vegas Sands (LVS).
Eighteen legislators voted in favor of the lease transfer and one lawmaker abstained.
Before the approval, the body referred to the matter as “the casino item.”
Those words emerged despite lawmakers repeatedly emphasizing that the lease transfer was about who would operate the coliseum, not regarding Sands building a casino.
That was also the wording the recommending committee gave them. On July 22, the Nassau County Legislature Rules Committee approved 172-24 and 173-24, which committee members emphasized weren’t about casino development.
The measures appearing on the Aug. 5 agenda also bore new titles:
- Ordinance 28-2024 was the new name of the measure the committee considered as 172-24. It provides for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), to “facilitate development” of the Sands New York Integrated Resort.
- The title for the Nassau Coliseum “operational lease” legislation became Ordinance 29-2024, known as 173-24 in committee.
Sands New York Casino Proposal
On Jan. 12, 2023, LVS proposed a $5 billion to $6 billion project that included a casino on the land housing the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Sands hasn’t formally applied for a downstate casino license yet, because no developers can do so until 30 days before the deadline of June 27, 2025. That’s when the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (NYSGFLB) — the siting board appointed by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) — will begin reviewing formal applications for three downstate casino licenses.
Sands New York Casino Is Controversial
Opponents of the Las Vegas Sands (LVS) casino proposal are among the most outspoken and active rivals of proposed downstate commercial casino projects. Hofstra University leaders took county officials to court regarding issues related to the Sands proposal. Garden City leaders sent a letter to Nassau County legislators voicing their objections. Members of the Say No to the Casino Civic Association regularly organize public events to rally against it.
Association spokeswoman Allison O’Brien-Silva said in an email to Bonus on Aug. 5:
Sands wants this lease so they can say they have land control when they apply for a license. End of story.
She told Bonus she’d submitted that statement and more to the legislators via email. O’Brien-Silva didn’t testify in person because she left the meeting after five hours and before being called to testify.
The meeting lasted for nine hours, mostly because legislators heard lengthy and emotional testimony from residents and concerned parties about masks and facial coverings. Bill supporters wanted police officers to be able to require mask-wearers to remove the items when requested, especially when committing a crime. Opponents had many reasons for disliking the measure, including believing that officers may require immunocompromised people to unmask.
The so-called “Nassau mask ban” passed in a 12-7 vote.
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