Plainview Has 'Grave Concerns' over Video Slots Proposal

A proposal to transform the OTB Race Palace in Plainview to include 1,000 video slot machines is meeting widespread condemnation in the community.

Private citizens and the Plainview's Board of Education have expressed deep concerns over the proposal, although no formal decision has been announced by state or county officials.

"I urge all of the organizations and stakeholders in Plainview-Old Bethpage and neighboring areas who value the quality of life in our community to follow our lead and speak out against the proposed video lottery casino at the Race Palace while we can still stop it from becoming a reality," said Gary Bettan, a member of the school board.

In fact, the Board of Education passed a resolution recently saying it is "extremely concerned regarding the potential for a dramatic negative impact on the school community" from the proposal.

County Executive Edward P. Mangano has said previously that his office is conducting a study of the Plainview OTB Race Palace option. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Mangano has said.

The school board's resolution cited the fact that three of Plainview's schools are located within two miles of the Race Palace and that a "casino will likely bring additional traffic that could impact and pose a risk to the safe and efficient travel of our students, staff, and school buses. especially if patrons of the casino leave the area driving under the influence of alcohol."

The resolution goes on to cite a number of negative impacts the board said could accompany such a gaming facility in Plainview. Read the full resolution here.

Community sources indicated the Nassau County Legislature will discuss the issue Monday at 1 p.m. in Mineola. It is not clear that any decision will result from that meeting.

Carol Meschkow, President of Concerned Citizens of POB, told community members through Facebook that she had reached out to Mangano about the community's "grave concerns." Mangano, Meschkow said, assured her "that Nassau OTB has not made any decisions yet." Several Nassau locations are under consideration, she said.

"The County Executive has certainly heard our concerns loud and clear," Meschkow said.

The Race Palace is located at Plainview's eastern end where Old Country Road and Round Swamp Road converge. The high-end Off Track Betting facility is also just off the Long Island Expressway. It contains scores of large screen TVs and betting windows to wager on horse races across the country.

The facility, which also has a restaurant and bar, has been identified as one of the possible sites in Nassau and Suffolk to operate 1,000 "video lottery terminals." A "cut" from the terminals generates revenues for local counties.