A planned Las Vegas-style video slot machine parlor at Aqueduct race track has cleared its final legislative hurdle.
Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Queens) last night said his house's leader has signed off on the developer and operator backed by Gov. Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos had balked because of local concerns.
After more than a week of meetings, many Queens leaders threw their support to the project after the developer, Delaware North of Buffalo, put its plans formally in writing, Maltese said.
"We were trying to protect the community," Maltese said.
Maltese, who is in a tight Senate race, and Senate Republicans had come under increasing criticism from Democrats for blocking a project that would bring the state $370 million up front and generate $1 million per day in revenue.
Besides the 330,000-square-foot Ozone Park "racino" that will boast 4,500 video slot machines, a second phase of the project would include a $150 million hotel and conference center.
A formal announcement is expected Thursday.
