The president of Hofstra College is urging Lengthy Island lawmakers to nix a plan for Las Vegas Sands Corp. to place a on line casino on the Nassau Coliseum close to its campus — claiming it’ll be extra hassle than it’s value.
“The on line casino proposed by Las Vegas Sands runs immediately counter to the pursuits of our native inhabitants and can create risks somewhat than advantages,” Hofstra chief Susan Poser mentioned in draft testimony obtained by The Submit.
In her stinging 13-page testimony to be offered to Nassau County lawmakers voting on the plan Monday, Poser mentioned a on line casino on Hempstead Turnpike on the Nassau Hub in Uniondale will set off intractable issues whereas draining enterprise from native retailers and hurting deprived minority communities.
She additionally questioned the integrity of Las Vegas Sands, which has shifted its focus abroad in Asia and is making an attempt to revive a presence within the US.
Hofstra, which opened in 1935, is the primary non-public school on Lengthy Island.
“The Nassau Hub will not be an applicable place to web site a on line casino growth for a bunch of causes,” she mentioned. “As a result of it might create critical risks and dangerous situations for our group – together with playing habit, crime, site visitors congestion, and air pollution – I urge the Legislature to vote in opposition to the proposed grant of this lease to Las Vegas Sands,” she mentioned.
She additionally blasted Las Vegas Sands as being “motivated by short-term revenue” to its shareholders somewhat than the pursuits of Lengthy Islanders.
“To Las Vegas Sands, we’re simply one other wager positioned on a playing desk,” Poser mentioned. “Excessive wins per unit from a on line casino means excessive losses for individuals who go to the on line casino to gamble, the vast majority of whom will likely be repeat gamers from Nassau County.”
Poser known as out the Sands’ exit from the US market — even promoting its Las Vegas casinos to give attention to its property in Asia — and that it’s now making an attempt to rebound within the US.
“The realm surrounding the Nassau Hub is densely populated by a pupil inhabitants, and a number of research exhibit that college students are significantly vulnerable to playing habit,” she mentioned. “I discuss with the over 32,000 mixed college students attending Hofstra College, Nassau Group Faculty, and Kellenberg Memorial Excessive College, that are all actually throughout the road from the Nassau Hub. If one ventures just a few blocks farther, there are extra preschool, major, and secondary colleges, ultimately reaching nearly 60,000 college students inside a 6‐mile radius.” .
Poser continued, “Nassau County shouldn’t situate a playing middle in a location brimming with younger people who find themselves particularly predisposed to such dangerous habits. As knowledgeable educator, I entreat you to weigh the dangers to our youth posed by putting a on line casino within the coronary heart of an area college group and close to many different colleges with college students starting from preschool by highschool.”
She additionally famous the proposed on line casino, if authorised by state regulators, can be situated close to Uniondale, Hempstead and Roosevelt — predominantly minority and decrease revenue neighborhoods.
And citing research, Poser mentioned casinos entice crime and unlawful medicine — and even talked about a bounce in lawbreaking outdoors Jakes’s 58 slots parlor in Islandia in Suffolk County.
But there’s no evaluation on what the on line casino’s affect on site visitors alongside already congested Hempstead Turnpike in addition to the water provide, she argued, additionally questioning the long-term financial advantages of a on line casino.
In keeping with Poser, different makes use of are preferable, like a expertise and life sciences hub that may associate with Hofstra and Nassau Group Faculty.
“In regard to casinos, proof from the expertise of others reveals that, whereas there could be some brief‐time period financial beneficial properties, the advantages are outweighed in the long term in an space like Lengthy Island the place casinos will shift income from current companies serving our group,” mentioned Poser.
She additionally argued most gamblers heading there can be from close by Lengthy Island communities.
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman final month endorsed the Sands plan for the Nassau Coliseum web site. The county owns the property round Nassau Coliseum, and he introduced a 99-year lease with Sands.
On Sunday, he pushed again at Poser’s criticism.
“Hofstra is actually entitled to have their say however to say crime will likely be an issue is just not true,” he mentioned in a press release to the Submit. “The Nassau County Police could have enhanced patrols paid for by the Sands and over 200 non-public safety guards will likely be employed. It is a luxurious leisure web site not a 1970s period on line casino on the strip.”
Sands says it has personal listing of organizations that again the Nassau on line casino.
Requested about Hofstra’s criticism, Sands countered Sunday with its personal listing of organizations that again the Nassau on line casino.
“As this course of strikes ahead, we’re very gratified to have acquired nice help from organizations within the surrounding communities and all through Lengthy Island together with Nassau Group Faculty, Lengthy Island College, NAACP New York State Convention, leaders in organized labor, native and regional chambers of Commerce together with Uniondale Chamber of Commerce, Lengthy Island African American and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, quite a few not for revenue organizations, small companies and plenty of others,” a Sands spokesman mentioned.
The Sands plan is a roll of the cube even with out opposition.
State regulators must award the Las Vegas Sands a license to function, even, as anticipated, the Republican-controlled Nassau County legislature provides its blessing to the switch of property to Sands.
The state is anticipated to approve three on line casino licenses, with a bulk of income from licensing charges and revenues going to prop up the financing of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Opposition is constructing elsewhere in opposition to casinos, nonetheless. Brooklyn’s Group Board 13 lately authorised a non-binding decision in opposition to finding a on line casino alongside the Coney Island Island boardwalk. Many Manhattanites additionally don’t need a on line casino in or round their neighborhoods.
Different gaming operators are vying for one in every of three downstate on line casino licenses.
Gaming large Bally’s is betting on The Bronx — proposing a on line casino on the Trump Group’s public golf course at Ferry Level.
The house owners of the current slots parlors on the Aqueduct race observe in Ozone Park, Queens, and Yonkers race observe — Genting/ Resorts World and MGM’s Empire Metropolis — are anticipated to submit bids to develop their choices to incorporate desk video games.
In the meantime, Mets proprietor Cohen is eyeing a on line casino close to the workforce’s stadium in Flushing, probably partnering with Seminole Exhausting Rock. A 25,000-seat skilled soccer stadium can be deliberate within the neighborhood.
Others planning bids to function a on line casino embrace the Steve Ross-Associated Firms/Wynn Resorts partnership for Hudson Yards, the owner SL Inexperienced/Caesars Leisure workforce in Instances Sq..