A public hearing is set to take place at 5 PM today on the controversial, multibillion-dollar Las Vegas Sands casino and resort proposed for Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.
The hearing — which will be held at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building at 1550 Franklin Avenue in Mineola — will evaluate the environmental impact of the project proposed to be constructed on this vast tract of country property.
What the Project Calls For
The proposal calls for the construction of:
- a 390,000-square-foot casino,
- two hotels with over 1,600 rooms,
- a 213,000-square-foot conference center, and
- a 4,500-seat arena.
It will require an expansion of the congested Meadowbrook Parkway to accommodate an estimated 10 million visitors a year.
Full Speed Ahead?
The Nassau County Legislature Rules Committee approved a 42-year lease for the project this summer. A gaming license remains pending.
The Sands New York project is one of over 10 proposals competing for one of three downstate casino licenses authorized by the state legislature in 2022.
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has also proposed a $8 billion casino project on Citi Field property in partnership with Hard Rock International.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has tried to fast-track the controversial project, continues to face opposition from a broad segment of voices in Nassau County.
Not So Fast
Last week, the Village of Garden City filed a suit in the Nassau State Supreme Court to void the lease agreement, alleging that the county bypassed the required due diligence and environmental review process.
An earlier 99-year lease agreement awarded to Sands by Nassau County was voided in 2023 after State Supreme Court Judge Sarika Kapoor agreed with a suit by Hofstra University that the county had not properly notified the public of the hearing on the lease as per the state’s open meetings law.
An Unpopular Project
A majority of likely voters in Nassau County opposed the Nassau Coliseum casino proposal, according to a Siena College survey this summer.
Local residents argue that the increased traffic will worsen air quality, particularly in predominantly black neighborhoods such as Uniondale.
In August, Garden City Mayor Mary Flanagan said the casino would bring traffic, drunk driving fatalities, pollution, crime, and addiction to the area.
Supporters, including union groups, say it will produce jobs.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has conducted an extensive multiyear lobbying campaign in New York, powered by firms Brown & Weinraub Advisors and The Parkside Group to engage Blakeman, state, county, and Town of Hempstead officials, as well as, State Senator Kevin Thomas of Garden City.
Though based in the United States, Las Vegas Sands presently generates the majority of its revenue in China.
The Dangers of Gambling
A 2024 study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that legalized online gambling boosted state revenue while leading to irresponsible gambling, particularly among low-income individuals.
A 2006 study found that casinos contribute to increased crime over time due to rising gambling addiction.
Read the Environmental Impact Statement
A copy of the draft environment impact statement can be read here.