In the face of community opposition, Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting has withdrawn plans for a mini casino in Westbury, N.Y. and is now looking for a new Nassau County location to construct the facility.
Nassau OTB had selected a vacant building in the Source Mall that formerly housed a Fortunoff store in late December as the site for its casino, which would have included up to 1,000 video lottery terminals and generated an estimated $20 million in annual revenue. The agency passed a resolution in mid-December to start authorizing up to $100 million in bonds to buy and develop a casino property. It proceeded with plans for a mini casino after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a 2013 bill that allowed Nassau and neighboring Suffolk County to build one video lottery terminal facility each with a maximum of 1,000 machines.
"While we firmly believe that this site would have received all of the necessary approvals, it is clear that the level of opposition from the surrounding neighbors and their elected representatives no longer made the Fortunoff's property a viable option consistent with NROTB's long-term business model," said Arthur T. Walsh, general counsel for the agency. "Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation is committed to fulfilling its mandate established by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor to establish a VLT gaming facility."
Walsh added that Nassau OTB will now select an alternative location following a "comprehensive review" of potential sites.
"This facility will benefit Nassau County taxpayers with revenue to mitigate future property tax increases," said Walsh. "It will strengthen the local economy and create good paying jobs by providing patrons with a state of the art, multifaceted recreational experience."
