A Who’s Who of big-name Las Vegas gambling companies is lining up to replace the Genting company as builder/operator of a huge new convention center/megacasino complex in New York City, The Post has learned.
Over the last three months, top officials from Sands Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have all told Howard Glaser, Gov. Cuomo’s state operations director, or other top Cuomo aides that they’re interested in replacing Genting.
The expressions of interest came as private talks with Genting about building a $4 billion convention center adjacent to its Aqueduct racino in Queens were grinding to a halt, a Cuomo administration source said.
“There really is a great deal of interest from major Las Vegas operators, especially with companies whose business model utilizes the convention-center/casino hybrid approach,” the source said.
“A steady stream of people have been coming in who are interested in doing this.”
Among top corporate representatives who spoke with Cuomo’s aides about the project were Sands board Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, Sands VP Andy Abboud, Caesars VP Jan Jones and MGM Resorts VP Alan Feldman, according to the source.
Cuomo unexpectedly announced Friday that Genting’s plan for a privately funded convention center at Aqueduct, which he had trumpeted in his State of the State Address in January, was on hold because of uncertainty over the future of casino gambling in New York.
Genting, a Malaysia-based international gaming company, operates Aqueduct’s highly successful new racino, which features casino-like slot machines that are legally classified as lottery devices.
State lawmakers this year gave first-time passage to a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing full-blown Las Vegas/Atlantic City-style gaming. But the amendment can’t take effect until after November 2013, at the earliest, because it must be passed at another legislative session and then go to the voters for approval.
Genting backed out of the convention-center project after the state refused to commit to its holding an exclusive gaming license in the New York City area if casino gambling is legalized.
Over the last three months, top officials from Sands Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have all told Howard Glaser, Gov. Cuomo’s state operations director, or other top Cuomo aides that they’re interested in replacing Genting.
The expressions of interest came as private talks with Genting about building a $4 billion convention center adjacent to its Aqueduct racino in Queens were grinding to a halt, a Cuomo administration source said.
“There really is a great deal of interest from major Las Vegas operators, especially with companies whose business model utilizes the convention-center/casino hybrid approach,” the source said.
“A steady stream of people have been coming in who are interested in doing this.”
Among top corporate representatives who spoke with Cuomo’s aides about the project were Sands board Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, Sands VP Andy Abboud, Caesars VP Jan Jones and MGM Resorts VP Alan Feldman, according to the source.
Cuomo unexpectedly announced Friday that Genting’s plan for a privately funded convention center at Aqueduct, which he had trumpeted in his State of the State Address in January, was on hold because of uncertainty over the future of casino gambling in New York.
Genting, a Malaysia-based international gaming company, operates Aqueduct’s highly successful new racino, which features casino-like slot machines that are legally classified as lottery devices.
State lawmakers this year gave first-time passage to a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing full-blown Las Vegas/Atlantic City-style gaming. But the amendment can’t take effect until after November 2013, at the earliest, because it must be passed at another legislative session and then go to the voters for approval.
Genting backed out of the convention-center project after the state refused to commit to its holding an exclusive gaming license in the New York City area if casino gambling is legalized.
