It’s an “Ether”-level diss.
A Nas-backed bid to construct a on line casino at Aqueduct Resorts World in Queens took a step ahead Thursday — simply days after a Jay-Z affiliated group was informed no thanks.
Aqueduct gained a preliminary approval from a state sitting board to maneuver onto the subsequent stage to obtain one in all as much as three on line casino licenses, a victory that had one Queens politician able to dig up Nas’ notorious rap beef with Jay-Z, whose Caesars Occasions Sq. bid was flatly rejected final week.
“There’s a theme in Queens and I do know Nas is part of it,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards stated. “Queens will get the cash!”
“Sorry Jay-Z. We win once more,” the borough president quipped. “I simply needed to rub it in.”
Nas is a associate within the Genting Resorts World bid for a state gaming license to supply stay desk video games resembling craps, blackjack and poker. The $5 billion proposal features a live performance corridor and a sports activities academy involving Queens hoops legend Kenny “The Jet” Smith.
He visited state lawmakers in Albany final yr to tout the proposals.
Richards was one in all six members of the state neighborhood advisory committee who voted unanimously for the Resorts World bid.
Jay-Z was a associate with Caesars and Sl Inexperienced Realty on the Occasions Sq. bid. Each bid for a on line casino within the borough of Manhattan was given the axe on the advisory board stage.
The MGM Empire Metropolis slots parlor at Yonkers Raceway additionally cleared a significant hurdle Thursday because it seeks to supply stay desk video games.
The Yonkers bid was permitted by its neighborhood advisory group in a unanimous 5-0 vote Thursday, simply hours earlier than the vote on the Queens playing facility.
Each “racinos,” as they’re referred to as, have clear benefits within the bidding course of.
MGM Empire Metropolis opened in 2006 and Genting Resorts World in 2011. They’ve constructed up good will with surrounding neighborhoods and have a observe file of producing lots of of thousands and thousands of revenues for the state.
The Jay-Z backed Caesars Occasions Sq. bid needed to begin with a proposal scratch — and couldn’t overcome ferocious opposition from the Broadway League, which represents theaters and Manhattan West Facet residents.
A member of the Yonkers siting board stated it’s important for MGM Yonkers slots parlor to be awarded the fitting to supply desk video games. Its existence shall be threatened if the state gaming fee refuses to take action however approves one other full-fledged on line casino close by.
“Empire Metropolis on line casino will wither and die [without a table games license],” stated James Cavanaugh, chairman of the Yonkers neighborhood advisory committee, and an appointee of Mayor Andrew Spano.
The statewide gaming facility location board will evaluate bids permitted by the neighborhood siting boards. The state Gaming Fee has remaining say and can approve as much as three on line casino licenses by yr’s finish.
The neighborhood boards will evaluate three different bids subsequent week — Bally’s in The Bronx on the web site of the previous golf course property run by President Trump’s agency at Ferry Level, The Coney in Coney Island and Mets proprietor Steven Cohen and Laborious Rock’s proposal subsequent to Citi Discipline.
