The Malaysian firm that runs the largest casino in the world is in a one-horse race to become the operator of Aqueduct race track's slot machine casino near Kennedy Airport.
Until now, Genting Malaysia Berhad has had only a behind-the-scenes presence in U.S. gaming as an investor, including providing seed money for the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut.
But last week, the state Lottery Division disqualified two other bidders, making Genting the only contender left standing. If lottery officials and legislative leaders ultimately approve Genting's bid, the company will for the first time take on an upfront role in North America.
Earlier this year, state leaders had a deal with Aqueduct Entertainment Group - which boasted the politically connected Rev. Floyd Flake as one of its partners - but AEG was found to be unlicensable by lottery officials.
Details of what a Genting-run Aqueduct would look like began to emerge over the weekend when the company disclosed some plans for the antiquated site.
In addition to 4,500 slot machines, there would be a two-story, 450-seat food court, a 34,000-square-foot meeting site for corporate and community events, an entertainment center, a 2,200-car garage, shuttle buses to JFK, valet parking and an outdoor terrace that could accommodate 10,000.
And of course, a 75-foot waterfall.
"It's going to look like a first-class casino," Jay Walker, Genting's spokesman, said.
Genting will outline its plans in more detail Thursday night for Community Board10, which was stunned last week when lottery officials said the other two bidders, SL Green and Penn National Gaming, had been disqualified.
Those firms inserted too many protections for themselves into their proposals, officials said, including provisions that would shield them if Nassau County manages to get the Shinnecock tribe to build a rival casino at the Nassau Coliseum.
Genting has already generated some controversy in New York.
Last year, Joseph Bernstein, the former CEO of Empire Resorts, which runs Monticello's race track, complained to state racing authorities that he was pushed out of office by Genting, which has a $55 million investment in Empire.
Bernstein charged that Genting's representatives, Michael Brown and Colin Au, were trying to make a side deal with the St. Regis Mohawk tribe to sell the tribe some of Empire's land for a casino - a deal that Bernstein said would hurt Empire's investors.
He later withdrew his complaint after getting a $1.5 million severance package, but the state Racing and Wagering Board is continuing to investigate all the same, an agency spokesman said.
Genting is known for lending money to Native American tribes at a hefty interest rate of 30%; members of the Seneca Nation have complained that more profits from their casinos went to Malaysia than to upstate New York.
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