Three New Casinos Approved for New York City Area

This is a follow-up on an article about “Metropolitan Park”, a Las Vegas-style casino and entertainment district on nearly 50 acres of Citi Field parking lot project led by Mets owner Steve Cohen. You can read that here. 

Three casinos are officially coming to New York City after the New York State Gambling Commission gave final approval on Dec. 15. While several proposals were considered across the city, none of the approved casinos will be located in Manhattan—an upshot of strong community opposition earlier this fall.

The three casino projects cleared a significant hurdle on Dec. 1, when the New York Gaming Facility Location Board voted in favor of their proposals. The approved locations include Bally’s Golf Course at Ferry Point in the Bronx, a site next to Citi Field in Flushing, and the Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica.

A major company will operate each casino. Bally’s will oversee the Bronx location, Hard Rock will run the Citi Field casino in partnership with Mets owner Steve Cohen, and Resorts World will expand its existing gambling operations at Aqueduct Racetrack. Because Aqueduct already has horse-betting infrastructure, officials expect that site to open the fastest.

The Gambling Commission formally announced the decision during a meeting held at Riverside State Park in Manhattan. Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer highlighted the economic impact of the projects, pointing to job creation and increased tax revenue. 

“We look forward to seeing the jobs, economic development, infrastructure, and gaming revenue come to fruition,” O’Dwyer said.

O’Dwyer also emphasized the importance of accountability, noting that each casino will be regularly reviewed by the state to ensure it delivers on promised community benefits. A state-appointed monitor will reportedly review each project every three months for five years.

Governor Kathy Hochul also released a statement supporting the decision, calling the vote “the culmination of a multi-year, community-driven process.” She said the licenses were only awarded to proposals that showed local support and clear community benefits.

Earlier this fall, several Manhattan casino proposals were rejected during local review by Community Advisory Committees (CACs). Proposals that failed to gain approval included developments planned for Times Square, Hudson Yards, and near the United Nations.

While the approval of the three casinos marks a major step forward for gambling expansion in New York City, debate continues over their long-term impact on neighborhoods, housing, and local economies.