Court: Long Island casino permit improperly issued

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Casino opponents are in luck after a state Supreme Court ruling that the special permit issued by the Village of Islandia on Long Island to operate the video lottery terminal facility at Jake's 58 is illegal.

"There's noise, there's pollution, there's garbage, there's people wandering around," Ira Bezack said. He and other residents who live nearby are plaintiffs in a lawsuit to get the casino moved.

"We are a land of laws and even when the government violates its own laws they should be held accountable," Bezack said.

People who come to the casino say it is a success. The parking lot is always packed as thousands of people visit on any given day. It brought in close to $220 million in gross revenue last month alone.

"It's convenient -- it's right off the expressway," one gamer told us. "It's clean, it's nice, it's got plenty of machines."

Operator Delaware North and the village say the casino will stay open while they appeal the decision. Since February, it has provided hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the state in aid for education.

Patron Adrian Ford said it is exactly what Long Island needs.

"You come here, you relax, everybody is having a nice time," Ford said. "Why would you want to get rid of it?"

The village has a board meeting scheduled for the beginning of October. The board has until December to appeal the decision.