Metro

Feds contact losing bidders in probe on Aqueduct deal

Federal authorities have begun contacting losing bidders as part of a growing probe into the controversial deal to install video slots at Aqueduct, The Post has learned.

Even as it emerged yesterday that two AEG investors are being probed by state and federal officials over unrelated financial scams, an official from the Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara’s office already has been in touch with Delaware North, one of four groups that lost out on the lucrative contract to the Aqueduct Entertainment Group, sources said.

“They wanted to know if Delaware North would be willing to cooperate with an investigation. If someone wants to investigate, we’d tell them anything we know about the bidding process. We’d be willing to cooperate,” a Delaware North insider said.

Penn National CEO Peter Carlino also said he would participate in any probe.

“The outcome was somewhat preordained. It’s disappointing that we wasted even five minutes on this project,” Carlino fumed. “AEG is not the most competent operator.”

Carlino even sent a private letter to Gov. Paterson expressing concerns that the fix was in weeks before Paterson and legislative leaders awarded AEG the 30-year franchise.

“If our being a Pennsylvania-based company in any way prejudicess us in the bid process, we wish we would have known that going in,” Carlino told Paterson. “It would almost appear that some might be trying to find way not to award the contract to Penn.”

Paterson’s office on Tuesday released documents related to the bid, which showed that AEG initially ranked last in terms of revenue it would generate for the state – but then jumped to first when bids were revised.

One gaming expert told The Post the dramatic change “looked fishy.”

Meanwhile, questions were raised about some of AEG’s invesment partners yesterday.

The Toronto-based 1X Inc, an online gaming software company, owns 4.4 percent of AEG.

Two of 1X’s investors are principals in the Markit Group, which is being investigated by both the US Justice Department and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s as part of a larger probe of the credit default swap market.

Markit has denied any wrongdoing.

The controversy surrounding the Aqueduct project has enared Paterson for three weeks.

“I told David that picking AEG would be a mistake,” said one longtime associate. “There are too many shaky characters and they tried to pimp Floyd Flake’s good name,” the source added, referring to the powerful Queens minister who a key leader in AEG’s effort.

Critics also said AEG’s own statements indicate they are were allowed to change their bud after submission.

In a statement on Tuesday, AEG said in “subsequent negotiations” with state officials it had raised its upfront license fee to the state to $251 million, and then to $300 million. It initially offered $151 million, the lowest of all bidders.