Nassau County officials are rolling the dice on a bid to lure a Shinnecock Indian casino to a site next to the Nassau Coliseum, county and tribal officials said yesterday.
County Executive Ed Mangano said a casino and hotel would be in addition to a proposed $3.8 billion complex of offices, stores and entertainment venues that New York Islanders owner Charles Wang wants to build at the 150-acre Hempstead property.
"Serious consideration must be given to this economic development opportunity that would create jobs, expand the tax base, build a new Nassau Coliseum and retain the Islanders," Mangano said.
But sources familiar with the talks say they are at a very preliminary stage, and that the coliseum site is among five or six sites in Suffolk and Nassau counties that the Southampton-based Shinnecock are considering.
"I think Suffolk and Nassau are realizing that if we get bumped out of Long Island, they are going to lose a lot of money," said Lance Gumbs, a tribal trustee.
The Shinnecock have also considered a possible casino location upstate.
The Shinnecock would have to negotiate a revenue-sharing plan with the state. It would also need several federal approvals.
Mangano said that if those approvals were done this year, construction could begin in 2011.
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