Four Casino Proposals Will Now Vye
For Three Full Downstate Licenses
YONKERS—There are now four players seated for what will be a high-stakes contest, with billions of dollars on the table, to secure one of up to three downstate full casino gaming licenses by the New York State Gaming Commission by year’s end.
(Four other initial players were cashed out after being rejected recently by their respective Community Advisory Committees.)
Now approved by their respective CACs are: the $2.3-billion MGM Empire Casino in Yonkers, which won a unanimous 5-0 vote on Sept. 25; the $5.5-billion Resorts World New York City in Queens project, which was approved by a 6-0 vote on Sept. 25; the $4-billion Bally’s Bronx casino project in the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx, which was approved in a 5-1 vote on Sept. 29; and the $8-billion Metropolitan Park casino project to be developed adjacent to Citi Field in Queens by billionaire New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, which advanced on Tues., Sept. 30, by a 6-0 vote by its CAC. All projects had a Sept. 30 deadline to secure CAC approval.
Three projects that were rejected—the Manhattan-based multi-billion-dollar Freedom Plaza, the Avenir and Caesars Palace Times Square and The Coney in Brooklyn—cannot advance for consideration by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board nor the New York State Gaming Commission.
The MGM Empire Casino, Resorts World New York City and Metropolitan Park projects received overwhelming community support in their respective markets. However, the Bally’s Bronx project was in fact rejected by the New York City Council, but revived by New York City Mayor Eric Adams who vetoed the council’s action. Since then, Bally’s successfully worked with its CAC on a community benefits agreement to win over support.
Both the MGM Empire Casino and Resorts World New York City, which are located adjacent to Yonkers and Aqueduct racetracks respectively, currently operate as successful Video Lottery Terming (VLT) gaming facilities. The other two proposals are new developments entirely. Resorts World New York City and Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, NY, a full casino gaming facility, are owned by the Genting Group. In the region, Genting also owns Resorts World Hudson Valley, a VLT gaming facility in Newburgh, NY.
The Gaming Facility Location Board is projected to reach a decision on all applications by Dec. 1 with the full gaming commission expected to approve up to three full downstate gaming licenses by year’s end. The Gaming Facility Location Board received a total of eight applications on June 27.
—By John Jordan
Published: October 1, 2025.