|
Residents of Queens have been waiting for the decision
on the Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park for a while now. The potential slot
machines location has been on hold because the current owner of the track
has filed for bankruptcy—now it is up to the Governor-elect, Eliot Spitzer
to decide the fate of this track and their slot machines.
The Aqueduct had initial plans to open the slot machines this year—but now
that plan isn’t possible and the owners and the town are hoping that Spitzer
will make a fast decision that will allow them to bring in the 4,500 planned
slot machines as soon as possible. When the slot machines do arrive at the
Aqueduct, the racetrack will then hold the title as largest slot machines
parlor in the county.
The Aqueduct racetrack blames the delay as the reason for bankruptcy. They
have no doubt that once the slot machines arrive, the track will be
operating in the black again. According to the spokesman for Aqueduct, Bill
Nader, "the delay in approving this is what drove us to bankruptcy in the
first place. Once we do get approval, the revenue going to New York State
from these machines will be the same revenue as all the Atlantic City
gambling combined provides the state of New Jersey."
Spitzer will be responsible for finding new management at the racetrack if
he chooses—and that is what will have to happen if the racetrack ever hopes
to have the slot machines approved. Bringing in the slots is a priority for
many because of the benefit it will bring to the community. Currently the
slot parlor will be giving half of the slot machines revenue to public
schools.
Back to December News>>>
Back to Recent
News>>>
|
