A federal bankruptcy judge ordered the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County to review and possibly grant permits to build a gambling parlor in Medford.

The proposed 98,000-square-foot video gambling facility would be built on property off the Long Island Expressway south service road.

The judge's ruling has upset critics of the plan.

Civic leader Maryanne Johnston says the parcel is not zoned for a gambling hall and argues Suffolk Off-Track Betting has no business building a casino.

"It's in bankruptcy. It needs to fold," Johnston says. "Realistically, they should sell the Medford site and look for another one because a bankruptcy judge has no authority to tell the town of Brookhaven to change its zoning code."

Suffolk OTB president Phil Nolan says the land is zoned for the mini-casino and will be a benefit to the community.

"It's a good project and it is going to keep hundreds of millions of dollars here in Suffolk County," says Nolan.

The Town of Brookhaven issued a statement saying, "We received the judgement and it is currently being reviewed by the Law Department."

Both sides will be in the Supreme Court on Dec. 9 to hear a decision regarding the exact interpretation of the land's zoning.