Las Vegas Sands will no longer pursue downstate gaming license for Nassau Coliseum development project

The decision makes the future development of the area surrounding the arena uncertain.

Jonathan Gordon

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Apr 24, 2025, 9:00 AM

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Updated 2 hr ago

With two months to go before the deadline to apply for one of three highly competitive and lucrative full gaming licenses was set to begin, Las Vegas Sands is dropping out of the bidding race.

For years, the company proposed and worked toward a $6 billion redevelopment project at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

In a statement, company officials blamed a series of potential issues but said it was working to find a partner to take over the application process.

"We strongly believe in the development opportunity for a land-based downstate casino license in New York. We also continue to believe that the Nassau Coliseum site is the best location for that development opportunity and should be highly competitive in the New York casino licensing process.

Instead, the company says it's looking for a third party to take over the casino licensing application process and keep its vision of a gaming destination in Nassau County alive. They also want the third-party to put forward an alterantive development proposal.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has been a longtime supporter of the project as a way to infuse the region with new jobs and economic opportunity, said the county is figuring out how to move forward.

Spokesperson Chris Boyle said in a statement:

"County Executive Blakeman has been aware of certain pressures that have factored into Las Vegas Sands’ rethinking of land-based brick and mortar casinos in the United States. The County Executive is grateful that Las Vegas Sands is committed to the development of the Coliseum site with or without a casino. However, there is strong interest from gaming organizations which have been in confidential discussions with Nassau County in taking the place of Las Vegas Sands in the licensing application process. Nassau County will crystallize within the next 30 days whether or not to entertain a casino component or develop the site without. In either event there will be an exciting new development that will create jobs and positive economic activity. "

The project had drawn strong reactions from the community on both sides of the issue. Many shared concerns about traffic, noise and the impact on the environment, while others supported the potential economic boom the project could have brought to Long Island.

A full gaming license allows casinos to offer in-person table games in addition to video slots and other digital games.

The deadline to apply for a license is June 27, with decisions expected to be made by the end of this year.