A groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday at Long Island’s Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel to celebrate the establishment beginning a $210 million expansion and renovation project.
It will double the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) to 2,000, triple the parking spaces on the property, and expand its food offerings to include multiple new upscale restaurants.
Executives from casino owner and operator Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation were present alongside local elected officials, as well as Long Island business and community leaders at the ceremony.
The casino expects to finish the project by spring 2026.
New project more than doubles the size of Jake’s 58 Casino
Video lottery terminals differ from other lottery offerings, such as instant win games and draw games. Instead, VLTs look and feel more like slot machines, even though winners are determined the exact same way as at other lottery game.
They represent a growing portion of the New York Lottery’s revenue at a time when traditional sales declined by 2% in the last fiscal year.
Jake’s 58 Casino’s expansion phase will build on 10.3 acres it has already purchased adjacent to its current property. It will bring the total property size up to 17.78 acres.
The expansion will create 110,500 square feet of new space for:
- 1,000 new VLTs
- A 200-seat food court
- 17,500-square-foot VIP lounge and entertainment area
Suffolk OTB President Phil Boyle said to Long Island Business News:
“The expansion and renovation of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel will mark an exciting new chapter for entertainment on Long Island. Doubling the number of our gaming machines will only be the start of the great things we have in store for our customers.”
Long Island News 12 also reported on Boyle’s comments. He added:
“Many times, people come here and there’s not enough games, almost all of them are taken, their favorite game is taken so they’re waiting so when we put 1,000 more games in, that will solve a lot of these issues.”
Additionally, expansion plans include constructing a new 168,000-square-foot parking garage to serve the projected increase in traffic.
The casino will also renovate 225,000 square feet of its existing facilities. It plans to upgrade the current casino gaming space, third-floor offices, and revamp the 200-room hotel, which was initially built in 1988 as a Marriott.
Local influences abundant in Long Island casino expansion
Since opening in 2017, Jake’s 58 has emerged as a premier gaming destination for Long Islanders. Its community continues to make it stronger, with local influences leading the way for the new project.
For starters, Suffolk OTB’s President, Boyle, was born and raised on Long Island and has a resume that includes 10 years serving as a state Senator and 14 years in the state Assembly. He began working with the casino in January 2023 and played an instrumental role in the expansion project coming to fruition.
The casino partnered with local architectural design firm bld Architecture, based in Patchogue, to design the project and gain the Village of Islandia’s approval for its proposal. Bld principal Alex Badalamenti said it took two years of planning and obtaining approvals, adding that the “much-needed expansion with new amenities, hotel upgrades and added parking will significantly enhance the overall user experience.”
Bld’s design paid attention to:
- Environmental concerns with strategic landscaping designs and buffering
- Local concerns about noise from increased traffic, erecting a 10-foot sound wall with high-tech soundproofing and greenery on both sides
Aurora Contractors, which is based in Ronkonkoma, won the construction bid.
Project to create new jobs, increase local revenue, and possibly reduce taxes
According to Suffolk OTB officials, the two-year construction project will create 800 temporary jobs for construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. The finished product will add up to 130 more permanent, full-time positions with benefits.
When completed, Suffolk OTB projects its revenue will increase by 42% annually, adding another $100 million to its bottom line (from $288 million in 2023). As a government-owned entity, casino profits go to schools, the State Education Department, and Suffolk County.
The Village of Islandia, located in Suffolk County, receives $2.25 million annually from Jake’s 58. With the projected revenue increase, the village expects that number to more than double to $4.6 million per year over the next 20 years.
Islandia Mayor Allan Dorman said if that happens, it will “eliminate the need for Village property taxes beginning in 2025-26 for the foreseeable future.”
Photo by PlayiLottery
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