Bronx Local News: Ready of Not - Bronx and Queens to Get Casinos, Manhattan Spared
3 NYC Casino Plans Approved by State Board Ahead of Final Decision at Year’s End
Bally’s in The Bronx and two casino projects in Queens will now advance to the final round of approvals before they can begin building.
This article originally appeared in The City.
By Marina Samuel
Manhattan Voice
December 1, 2025
The New York Gaming Facility Location Board, a group appointed by the State Gaming Commission to oversee the evaluation process of the new, fully licensed casinos, met at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan for the penultimate step of the downstate casino licensure process.
The board assessed each applicant on their proposed casino’s economic benefit, job creation, diversity initiatives, and impact to the local community. Each of the three casinos has estimated billions of dollars in revenue, and the state is hoping it will boost its own coffers. The state has already factored an estimated $2 billion in revenue from the projects into the MTA’s budget through 2029.
“The board’s decision was constrained by the specific criteria of the legislative study… in response to a vote of the people of New York State to support the licensure of the casino gambling in the state,” said board chair Vicki L. Been. “Within that framework, the board took very seriously, both concerns and the hopes of those who commented on the proposals.”
The casino race originally began with eight players, but only half remained after eight separate Community Advisory Committees — panels evaluating local support — killed some bids. MGM Yonkers in Westchester also unexpectedly withdrew its application to renovate and expand Empire State Casino, prompting Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to launch an investigation into the sudden drop out.
The gambling industry has been vying to break into the New York City market for decades. In 2013, voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing seven casino licenses statewide. The text of the amendment also issued a ten-year moratorium on downstate licenses so upstate casinos could establish themselves before encountering competition from downstate casinos.
One of the winners in Monday’s decision, Bally’s Corporation, plans to build a 500,000-square-foot casino at Ferry Point in Throggs Neck. The project includes a 500-room hotel, a 2,000-person event center and two parking garages with 4,660 spaces. As part of Bally’s purchase agreement for the site, the Trump Organization — the former operator of Trump Links golf course — is slated to receive $115 million from the deal.
“Our team has worked closely with community leaders, union partners, and local stakeholders to build a project that delivers real jobs, lasting economic benefits, and a world-class entertainment destination for the Bronx,” said Bally’s spokesperson Lauren Westerfield in a statement. “We are grateful for the board’s confidence and look forward to working with the Gaming Commission as the process moves to its next phase.”
In Queens, the Metropolitan Park project would transform a 50-acre lot near Citi Field into a resort with 286,208 square-feet of gaming space, an entertainment venue, multiple restaurants, a convention center, hotel and retail. Backed by Mets owner and hedge fund manager Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, the developers pledged $1.75 billion in community investments including park space and income-restricted housing.
Following the announcement of the recommendations, protests erupted from the crowd by a Flushing group organizing against the Metropolitan Park project.
“After years of community engagement and support, Metropolitan Park is one step closer to becoming a reality,” said Karl Rickett, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Park. “Following a fair, transparent and rigorous process, the Gaming Facility Location Board has validated the positive economic impact this project will have with billions of dollars in tax revenue, 23,000 union jobs, and over $1 billion in community benefits.”
Outside the Graduate Center, members of the coalition against the Metropolitan Park casino protested the Gaming Facility Location Board’s vote for what they perceived as a lack of community involvement in the licensure process. The Community Advisory Committee established local support for the casinos, but Sarah Ahn from the Flushing Workers Center, said that “the process was corrupt.” Ahn also said that community members delivered a list of grievances regarding the project to the committee before they ultimately voted to approve the proposal and felt “disenfranchised” by the process.
“Governor Hochul’s Gaming Commission is giving the green light for Steve Cohen to squeeze hard earned wages from our immigrant communities at a time when affordability is the key issue in our city. This casino will tear apart families, create gambling addiction, and increase crime and displacement,” the coalition said in a statement. “The tax revenue collected will come at the cost of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
The last license would go to Resorts World, which already operates the city’s lone, current gaming facility. Its 5.6 million-square-foot expansion plan will bring 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat arena, over 7,000 parking spaces, over 30 dining outlets and over a dozen acres of community green space to southeast Queens. The Genting Group, the Malaysian hospitality group that owns it, expects between $3.3 and $4.6 billion in revenue for 2031.
“Resorts World New York City’s journey to this historic moment represents more than 15 years of work to generate jobs, revenue and opportunities for our neighbors,” said Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East. “Resorts World New York City’s $7.5 billion proposal is the only bid that can expand operations in just 90 days, generating billions in new revenue for mass transit and public education over the next four years.”
What Happens Next?
While the Gaming Facility Location Board issues the final decisions on the applications, it is up to the State Gaming Commission to issue the casino licenses by the end of the year. The commission will assess whether applicants are financially sound and capable of responsibly operating a casino, including paying the $500 million application fee, securing land, investing $500 million in the local community, and addressing issues such as problem gambling and community impact.
The Gaming Commission will also be responsible for ensuring that the casino winners remain committed to the community investments outlined in their proposal as a part of their licensing agreement.
Winners must also place a deposit of 5 to 10% of the project’s total investment with the state.
While the lengthy approval process is almost over, it will take another few years until the winners will have their casinos up and running. Bally’s and Metropolitan Park expect to open their doors in 2030, while Resort Worlds will finish the first phase of their expansion by 2026, and the second in 2030.
Bally’s projects an annual revenue of $1.2 billion in economic output, including $370 million in state and local tax revenue. According to the Metropolitan Park team, their proposal would reap the most annual revenue with $3.9 billion by their third year, and $850 million in taxes.
The State Gaming Commission is expected to award the final licenses by December 31.
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