Steve Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets, is in talks with Las Vegas Sands Corp. about a possible casino next to Citi Field, according to several people familiar with the discussions.
The conversations are preliminary, according to the individuals granted anonymity because the matter is private. The state is currently in the initial stages of reviewing casino licenses in the New York City area, and any formal plan would still require a number of regulatory and legal approvals.
“Steve thinks Willets Point has to be tackled long term – it’s a mess,” said a Mets spokesman, adding that the team’s priority remains to fill vacant baseball positions. “He heard a lot of ideas and the Mets want to be part of these conversations to make sure the interests of our fans and the local community are well represented.”
A Las Vegas Sands representative did not respond to an email or voice message.
Earlier this month, the New York State Gaming Commission issued a 14-page request for information to measure interest in three unissued casino licenses in the lucrative Downstate region in and around New York City. As a precursor to the opening of a formal bidding process, replies are expected on December 10th.
The sports and gaming industries have grown together in recent years following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to legalize sports betting. Leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, which have battled this lawsuit for years, have quickly adjusted to the new industry and the money that comes with it. The Washington Capitals recently became the first major U.S. team to have a sports betting company in their home venue, a sight that is likely to become everyday life for the next few years. New York currently only allows legal sports betting in casinos.
The Mets’ Citi Field, which opened next to the site of the old Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, in 2009. The team has a 99-year lease on the land that includes land adjacent to the stadium that is being considered for a potential casino, people said.
Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) was founded by the late billionaire Sheldon Adelson and, with eight properties and more than 50,000 employees worldwide, is one of the largest operators of casinos and resorts in the country. The portfolio includes the Venetian Resort and the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
New York State legalized casino gaming nearly a decade ago, with a licensing structure that prioritized upland communities far from New York City. Four commercial casino licenses were awarded in a bidding process, with three more remaining for possible future development.
The Gambling Commission’s request for information on these three non-issued licenses relates to downstate locations – New York City, Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island and three counties north of the city (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam).
The New York Post reported earlier this month that casino operators are locating locations near Citi Field, near Belmont Park on Long Island (home of the New York Islanders racetrack and new arena), and the St. George neighborhood on Staten Island had explored. It mentioned Bally’s Corp., Wynn, Las Vegas Sands, and Genting, based in Malaysia, as groups that might be interested.
New York has a number of racinos and tribal casinos, as well as the four commercial casinos in the Upstate area. These are Del Lago Resort and Casino in Tire, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, Tioga Downs in Tioga, and Resorts World Catskills in Kiamesha Lake, all located at least 90 miles from New York City.
(The story has been updated to include a comment from a Mets speaker.)
