The Shinnecock Indian Nation has laid out its vision for a casino complex at Belmont Park in Elmont, disclosing that it would build a 500-room hotel and casino-entertainment complex on the western end of the property, renovate a Long Island Rail Road station and create a park and soccer field on the property's south lot. The tribe disclosed its plans Thursday night at a civic meeting in Elmont. The hotel and casino would be built on the upper left of the map where the LIRR station is located.
Detroit-based Gateway Casino Resorts has exclusive rights to develop and manage any Shinnecock Indian Nation casinos although that entity has never done so before. Gateway is controlled by Detroiters Michael Malik, a controversial wheeler-dealer, and Marian Ilitch. Her husband owns the Detroit Tigers, and they own the Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars pizza. She owns Detroit's MotorCity Casino. The Ilitch/Malik partnership has not developed or managed an Indian casino since parting company with former partner Tom Celani who has successfully gone on to open and manage numerous commercial gaming and Indian casinos across the U.S. Any Shinnecock casino would be the first such Ilitch/Malik venture. Further Malik failed to receive a gaming license in Michigan in 1999 and as such, was forced out of the MotorCity Casino partnership. Due to his controversial background and character, it is unclear if he could obtain a gaming license from the National Indian Gaming Commission.
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