A Long Island attorney supporting Las Vegas Sands’ proposal to build a $6 billion integrated resort at the Nassau Coliseum site has urged Governor Kathy Hochul to approve legislation that would expedite the bidding process for three downstate casino licenses—a move the governor has not yet indicated she will make.
In a Long Island Business News op-ed, Joshua Liebman, a partner at Rosenberg Calica Birney Liebman & Ross LLP in Garden City, NY, criticized the delay in the process, describing it as a case of “Waiting for Kathy.” According to Liebman, the delay is stalling opportunities for gaming companies to bid for the valuable downstate permits.
Senator Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) introduced bills in May in their respective chambers, bills that would have opened the bidding window for the New York City-area licenses by August 31 if signed into law by Hochul. With just 16 days left until that proposed date, there has been no indication from the governor that she plans to sign the legislation.
Press reports suggest that Hochul’s staff has neither requested the bill for review nor advanced it for approval or veto. Instead, there seems to be a deliberate choice to overlook the proposed bill and consequently delay any regulatory decisions into next year, Liebman argued.
The Addabbo/Pretlow effort was aimed at finalizing the three winners of the casino licenses by mid-next year. Without this legislative action, however, the process could extend into late 2025 or beyond.
In his editorial, Liebman clarified that neither he nor his firm has any ties with Sands or financial interests in the operator’s Long Island project. He does believe, though, that the proposed gaming venue could stimulate economic growth in Nassau County.
Liebman joins a growing chorus of commentators, experts, and gaming industry observers who criticize the slow-moving process of awarding the three downstate casino permits, much of the critique stemming from perceived inaction.
“If Rick’s casino in the movie ‘Casablanca’ had been waiting for Governor Hochul’s administration to issue it an operating license, the amoral French Captain Renault would have died of old age long before being presented with his winnings,” Liebman wrote.
Governor Hochul has consistently stated that she is not directly involved in determining how and to whom the licenses will be awarded. Despite this, New York political experts suggest there are clear links between the New York Gaming Commission (NYGC), the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, and political entities.
Due to the sluggish pace of New York regulators, speculation persists about which of the more than ten bidders will secure the three downstate casino licenses. Nevertheless, the Sands plan is widely viewed as one of the most viable options. As one of the largest gaming companies globally, Sands is already making significant investments in the surrounding community. Furthermore, Nassau Coliseum’s proximity to Manhattan is advantageous without posing a traffic threat to the already congested borough.
Liebman argues that the LVS casino hotel could invigorate Nassau County’s local economy and provide long-term benefits.
“The governor and her casino siting board need to recognize what the business community has long known. Delay is as much a decision as definitive action,” concluded Liebman. “Our region’s economy can’t be permitted to be deferred into oblivion. The casino decision should be issued ‘letters of transit’ and allow it to fulfill its economic potential.”
