Belmont Development

Bills threaten VLT facility

Legislation would repeal authorization for electronic gaming on Long Island

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A bill intended to prevent the installation of electronic gaming machines on Long Island was introduced in the State Senate on March 17.

The legislation, offered by Sen. Tony Avella, a Democrat from Whitestone, would repeal current state law, which allows video lottery terminals in Nassau and Suffolk County. VLTs are now operating in facilities in Westchester and Queens, and plans are in the works for sites on Long Island.

Avella’s bill is a companion to one introduced by Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Valley Stream) and Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James).

Nassau Regional Off Track Betting’s plan for the county focuses on developing unused land at Belmont Park. In September 2012, the Empire State Development agency issued a request for proposal for two parcels of land, north and south of Hempstead Turnpike. Last November, the agency removed the north parcel from the RFP. In late December, Nassau OTB chose the north parcel at Belmont Park as the site for a gambling facility.

Since that decision, there has been vocal opposition by local lawmakers and residents, who claim that the facility would negatively affect the area. The bill that Avella introduced is the next step in the continuing political battle being fought by area activists.

“Our communities deserve better, and now we finally have a senator that agrees that a casino at Belmont Park is not a realistic idea,” Solages said. “We need sustainable economic development.”

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano included a projected $20 million in annual revenue the facility could generate in the 2016 county budget. That estimate has since been reduced to $15 million for this year. Those projections have been challenged by, among others, Solages and Democratic State Senate candidate Adam Haber, who previously served on the Nassau Interim Finance Authority board.

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