Nassau County legislatures, in a move aimed at boosting the local economy, approved a lease agreement for a 6 billion dollar casino project pitched by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. This project holds the promise of creating jobs and attracting tourists to the area.
The new project, which will be built around the iconic Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, is a significant development for the area. However, legislatures stated that there are still obstacles that must be cleared before the casino can launch, including acquiring a gaming license from the state of New York.
The project has already been met with resistance from various organizations, including the “Say No to the Casino Civic Association,” which stated that “the lease is a dangerous example of the power of money in politics.” The organization went on to state that “Today, it exposes the depth to which predatory casino companies have infiltrated the halls of government and co-opted the rules of the process.
Lawmakers passed the casino initiative with an 18-1 vote; however, the whole project relies on Sands Corp’s getting one of the remaining NY casino licenses.
The New York State Gaming Commission has previously stated that it will be late 2025 before applicants for consideration are announced. Only three licenses will be awarded for New York City and the surrounding areas. In 2013, the state awarded four up-state casino licenses that were already active.
Are 18+ Casinos Available In New York?
While no brick-and-mortar casinos will allow 18–20-year-old players on the game room floor, there are 18+ NY casinos available online. Since no federal or state laws explicitly ban online casinos, Empire State players can enjoy all the real-money wagering games found online.
Popular online casino options include blackjack, baccarat, keno, video poker, slots, and more. You can even find state-of-the-art live dealer games broadcast via a live video/audio feed to your mobile device.
How Many Casinos Are In New York?
New York State has 12 land-based casinos/racinos licensed by the NY State Gaming Commission. There are also 16 other tribal casinos located throughout the state.
New York City, however, only has a handful of casinos, with Resorts World near JFK Airport seeing the most action. Prominent business ventures are currently vying to get one of the three “down-state” casino licenses that should be awarded in late 2025 or early 2026. Whoever receives the licenses will need the community’s support, as that is one of the factors the commission will consider before naming the applicants for consideration.