Sands Faces June 27 Deadline to Shift Nassau Casino Project

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is running out of time as it tries to hand off its Nassau Coliseum casino-resort plan to another operator. With the June 27 state casino license deadline approaching, the company is still working through zoning and land-use issues on the Long Island site, even though it stepped away from the license race last month.

Good to know

• Las Vegas Sands still controls a 42-year operating lease at the site.
• The company is trying to transfer the casino project to a new partner.
• Rezoning efforts continue despite the casino license withdrawal.

Attorney Daniel Baker told the Town of Hempstead zoning board that talks are ongoing, but the clock is ticking. “These discussions are still ongoing and the company is hopeful that a deal can still be reached,” he said. “However, the company also recognizes that there is little time left before applications are due to the state on June 27, and it may not be possible.”

Even without a guaranteed casino operator, Sands continues pushing for key zoning changes that would clear the way for large-scale redevelopment of the 72-acre Coliseum property and nearby Marriott Hotel site.

Rezoning Proposal Still in Motion

Sands wants the area to be officially designated as the Mitchel Field Integrated Resort District. That change would allow development of a casino, hotel tower, restaurants, and entertainment venues. A 280-foot hotel has already been proposed as part of the broader $7.6 billion plan.

Last week, Nassau County released a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project, covering topics such as noise, traffic, and light pollution in over 28,000 pages of assessments. This step brings the project closer to final zoning decisions, even though Sands has dropped out of the current casino license race.

The company also plans to convert its current 42-year lease into a 99-year development lease, aiming to stay involved in future projects on the property—whether a casino is included or not.

Support for the project remains strong among labor and business groups. “We need to move this site forward,” said John Durso, head of the Long Island Federation of Labor. “We are talking about jobs — good union jobs — work, careers, workforce development.”

However, not everyone agrees. Nearby residents and local officials have raised concerns about the project’s effect on the neighborhood. Garden City Mayor Ed Finneran questioned the point of the rezoning process if Sands has exited the casino license competition. “If you’re considering this zoning change, who is the sponsor? With the Sands abandoning this opportunity, why are we here today?” he asked.

Future of the Site Remains Unclear

Michael Levoff, senior vice president at Sands, emphasized that zoning changes are still important, regardless of whether a casino moves forward. “Nassau County and Town of Hempstead residents have made clear they want and deserve a transformational project at the site of the Coliseum,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nassau County spokesperson Chris Boyle stated in April that the county would decide soon whether to continue exploring a casino option or move ahead with other plans. He had previously mentioned interest from other operators that may want to take over the casino component.

New York State plans to issue up to three downstate casino licenses by the end of the year. Whether the Nassau site remains in contention depends on how fast decisions are made—and who steps in next.

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