EDITORIAL: Shinnecocks are keeping several casino sites in play

Long Island's Shinnecock Indian Nation is likely to win the right to operate casinos in the next few months, but don't put down a bet yet that one will be at the Nassau Coliseum.

County Executive Edward Mangano caused a stir yesterday with his announcement that he was talking with tribal leaders about the Uniondale site. Understandably, he is very excited about the revenue and jobs a casino brings. The Shinnecocks, however, only want to go where they are wanted, and Islanders team owner Charles Wang could tell them quite a tale about unrequited love in the Town of Hempstead.

Wang's massive project to renovate the Coliseum as part of a housing and entertainment complex is stalled because of density, traffic and water issues. A casino with a hotel, convention center and other amenities is likely to raise the same concerns. It's not clear how Mangano can overcome all that, plus negotiate with Wang - the Coliseum's leaseholder - while meeting the tribe's timetable to win state approval before the legislature leaves Albany at the end of June.

The Shinnecocks are scheduled to get federal recognition on June 18, and 35 days later they could put a slot machine on their Hampton Bays land. Wisely, their preference is to swap the right to gamble there for the ability to operate casinos in at least two other locations, one in commuting distance. Close by, the tribe is looking at Parr Meadows and county land in Yaphank, because of warm support in Brookhaven Town. Albany, whose approval is critical, wants the bigger revenue stream that would come from a casino closer to New York City. Belmont Park and Aqueduct Raceway have always been on their list, and now so is the county's land around the Coliseum.

The place for a permanent crap game in New York is still floating. hN