A New York judge has denied Nassau County lease to build a $4bn Sands casino. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Denies approval

A New York Supreme Court Judge has blocked a Nassau County lease to build a $4bn Sands casino.

Judge Sarika Kapoor denied the approval of the 99-year lease after ruling that officials failed to provide enough notice for public meetings and environmental reviews before voting occurred in the spring. Following the judge’s decision, Nassau County planning officials will have to restart hearings with county lawmakers who will then have to vote on it again.

would have been located next to the university campus

This is a massive win for Hofstra University, which filed the lawsuit in April. If the construction of the Sands casino was approved at the Nassau Coliseum site, it would have been located next to the university campus.

Speaking of the news, Hofstra University President Susan Poser said they look forward to taking part in the planning process and finding ways that the Hub can be used that best suit the community “while protecting against environmental and other harms.”

Steve Cohen’s $8bn casino

News of the failed lease agreement comes as Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, unveiled his plans to build an $8bn Hard Rock casino complex.

Cohen hopes that what he’s planning will revitalize the area

Metropolitan Park, the area where he’s planning to construct the casino, would encompass 50 acres of land around the team’s Citi Field in Queens. Featuring an extensive sports, entertainment, and casino complex, Cohen hopes that what he’s planning will revitalize the area.

While his plans aren’t a reality yet – he’ll need support from local politicians and residents to back his project – he faces plenty of competition to get one of the three available casino licenses. It’s believed that MGM Empire City Casino and the Resorts World Casino are likely to get two of the licenses, leaving one for anyone else.

And it’s not like Cohen is alone in wanting to build a casino complex. Other proposals include a Jay Z-backed casino in Times Square and a property on a former Trump-controlled golf course in the Bronx. It remains to be seen who will win the last license, and, ultimately, who can bring the most to New York.