Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is demanding answers Tuesday about the sale of Jake's 58 to Suffolk OTB.
Bellone wants OTB to turn over all documents pertaining to the deal.
"This is a public agency, and they made a commitment that there would be more transparency, more openness," says Bellone.
Delaware North had successfully run the 228-room hotel and video lottery gambling facility in Islandia for the last four years. Bellone says Suffolk OTB has been anything but transparent and essentially did the $120 million deal in the dark.
"I've urged them in multiple communications to not move forward with the deal until we've had an opportunity to review this properly, and they have ignored those requests," says Bellone.
Bellone says the deal raises concerns because OTB recently emerged from bankruptcy.
Suffolk Presiding Officer Rob Calarco and Leg. Kevin McAffrey say they're on board with the deal.
"I don't think there's been a lack of transparency," says McAffrey. "It's been up front. It's been so secret that they wanted to be able to do this. I think this is something they should have done a long time ago."
Bellone still wants an independent financial analysis of the deal.
"Let's be clear about this. This is not some privately run gaming operation," says Bellone. "This is run by an agency whose job literally is to deliver revenue and resources to Suffolk County taxpayers."
Suffolk OTB officials released a statement saying, "The acquisition was done by the letter of the law and received the consent from the New York State Gaming Commission and all other required governmental authorities and regulatory bodies."