Jake's 58 Casino To Undergo 'Rehabilitation,' Could Be Expanded

ISLANDIA, NY — Major renovations are coming to Jake's 58 Casino Hotel. And it won't end there, should Gov. Kathy Hochul sign legislation allowing the Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation to double the casino's gaming machines in a $200 million expansion.

Suffolk OTB wants to add roughly 1,000 gaming machines to Jake's 58 — for up to 2,000 total —but Hochul must approve the bill. The legislation passed the two state chambers earlier this year, though the process will reset if Hochul does not sign the bill by Dec. 31.

The expansion would take around two years should the governor approve it, said state Sen. Phil Boyle (R — Bay Shore), who is the incoming president and CEO of Suffolk OTB.

Boyle's term ends in January. He did not seek re-election.

The expansion would bring hundreds of millions of dollars to New York schools over years, in addition to tens of millions of dollars more to Suffolk County. Jobs would also be created: construction work and permanent employment in the facility housing the additional machines.

"It's not just a win-win," Boyle told Patch. "It's a win-win-win. And I hope the governor understands that."

The "rehabilitation" of Jake's 58 is a definite, Boyle said.

The renovation would see Jake's 58 upgrade its 200 rooms and create a sports bar where the bistro is. Suffolk OTB is partnering with a "large mobile sports betting organization," but the organization couldn't share which one yet.

Jake's 58 opened with 275 video lottery terminals in February 2017 and added 725 more within three months, Long Island Business News reported. The facility grosses more than $254 million in gaming revenue annually.

Boyle became executive director of Suffolk OTB in October, Newsday reported. Tony Pancella, the president, will switch jobs with Boyle and become executive director in January.