New York’s long-running race for downstate casino licenses reaches its climax on Monday, when the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to decide which proposals – if any – will secure up to three coveted licenses for the New York City area.
After years of political debate, community hearings and high-stakes lobbying, only three contenders remain from an original field of more than a dozen: an $8bn Hard Rock casino and entertainment complex next to Citi Field in Queens led by Mets owner Steve Cohen, a $4bn resort proposed by Bally’s on a former Bronx golf course once operated by the Trump Organization, and a $5.5bn expansion of Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct in Queens.
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Each winning bidder would be required to pay a $500m license fee and commit at least another $500m in capital investment, meaning New York could unlock more than $3bn in immediate revenue if all three licenses are awarded. That cash injection is attractive for Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration as it confronts budget pressures and rising public-spending demands.
The decision is also a test of how far the state is willing to lean on gambling expansion as an economic development tool. Supporters argue that full-scale casinos will generate thousands of union jobs, new tourism and long-term tax flows, while formalizing gambling that already exists through racinos and online betting. Opponents, including neighborhood groups and anti-casino coalitions, warn of increased traffic, problem gambling and pressure on vulnerable communities, particularly around Queens and the Bronx.
The board is not obligated to award all three licenses, and commissioners could still delay or attach strict conditions to any approval. But for developers, local governments and casino operators across the United States, Monday’s vote is being watched as a decisive moment: the day New York finally reveals which projects will reshape its gambling map – and which billion-dollar dreams are left on the cutting room floor.
