The proposed addition of a video gaming parlor at Belmont Park faced another round of protests from dozens of Elmont residents.
Dozens of local residents rallied outside the racetrack at Belmont Park on March 26, and say they don’t want one built there or in neighboring Suffolk County.
“Casinos are inherently designed so people never leave the casino. So
it’s not going to benefit the community as a whole. No one’s going to be shopping in stores, eating in restaurants,” protestor Carl Gerroto told WCBS 880.
The racetrack wants to add a 100,000-square-foot gaming parlor along its western grandstand in an effort to boost revenues at the track and help keep it running. Opponents say it will increase local traffic and crime, and is located to closely to six area schools.
Proponents, however, say the gaming terminal and its 1,000 planned video lottery terminals would help to generate an additional $24 million in state and local tax revenues. They also point out the video lottery terminals are tied to the New York State Lottery and are not traditional slot machines.
New York lawmakers in 2013 enacted legislation enabling the construction of two video lottery terminals in Suffolk and Nassau counties.
