Miriam Adelson, a prominent Republican donor, recently had a dinner meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, as reported by POLITICO. Interestingly, this meeting took place while Adelson is actively pursuing a state license to develop a casino at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
The connection between Trump and Adelson is expected to be a topic of interest among gaming bidders vying for one of the three downstate casino licenses.
Adelson, the majority owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, plans to allocate a significant portion of her approximate $32 billion wealth to support the election campaign of the individual responsible for the financial collapse of the Trump Taj Mahal.
Adelson’s political contributions pose a significant risk in a predominantly Democratic state like New York. In this fiercely contested battle for three gambling licenses, the bidders are heavily reliant on the backing of elected officials, with Governor Kathy Hochul holding a pivotal position.
According to an anonymous Democratic operative who is knowledgeable about the casino bidding process, New York has a strong anti-Trump sentiment.
Sands’ competitors are expected to emphasize Adelson’s ties to Trump during the high-stakes contest, according to an individual. They noted that this would be the initial move for these competitors, as they all have consultants who would recommend it.
There are new developments in the casino industry. On Tuesday morning, a hearing will be held by a New York City Council subcommittee regarding the zoning text amendment that paves the way for city bids.
According to a report by POLITICO, stakeholders in the gaming industry are facing endless frustration due to the slow licensing process. The state Gaming Commission has stated that licenses are not expected to be issued until late 2025.
The extended timeline provides an opportunity for the bidders and the consultants involved to further influence the decision-makers, who are political appointees. This allows them to sway the outcome in their favor and benefit financially from the process.
Adelson, a prominent donor within the Republican party, supports the Sands casino project, which has the endorsement of Bruce Blakeman, a Republican County Executive known for his strong opposition towards Kathy Hochul.
The casino bid has garnered support from various individuals, including Democratic donor Scott Rechler’s RXR Realty, former Gov. David Paterson, and Robert Zimmerman, who is George Santos’ opponent. Stu Loeser, the spokesperson for the casino bid, chose not to provide any comments.
There are many other projects that are also working the political angles, and Sands is just one of them.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, who previously contributed to Republicans, including a $1 million donation for Trump’s 2016 inauguration, has recently been showing support for Democratic-elected officials. As the owner of the Mets, he has been inviting them to games and making generous donations to both Hochul and the state Democratic Party. Additionally, Cohen has hired a significant number of lobbyists in the city to bolster his casino bid for Citi Field.
Yet another casino contender has chosen to distance itself from its politically problematic founder.
During a private meeting, a city politician from the Democratic party revealed that Wynn Resorts and Related Cos. emphasized the departure of Steve Wynn, a Republican megadonor who resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct, when presenting their proposal for gambling at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
