Over the last two weeks, community advisory committees severely trimmed the race for New York’s three downstate casino licenses.
Recently, a committee in the Bronx gave the go-ahead for a Bally’s property in the borough. On the other hand, a committee in Brooklyn shot down the plan for a casino at Coney Island.
Bally’s plan for a casino in the Bronx moves on to the next and final round of license consideration. The bid calls for a casino adjacent to the Ferry Point golf course. The waterfront property would feature a 500,000-square-foot casino, 500-room hotel, spa, meeting space, a 2,000-seat event center, shopping options, and more.
“The question is whether the collective benefits for the Bronx – jobs, revenue, investment, and long-term economic mobility – outweigh the localized burdens, and whether those burdens can be mitigated credibly, forcibly, and transparently,” said committee chair Lisa Sorin as a representative of borough president Vanessa Gibson. “It is my judgment that support in the community exceeds operative opposition and that the benefits can outweigh the harms.”
A Casino-Less Coney Island
The joint venture behind the $3 billion Coney Island casino project in Brooklyn was going to name the property “The Coney.” It would feature a 500-room hotel, 70,000-square feet of retail space, a dozen restaurants, and a 2,500-seat convert venue.
The committee voted 4-2 against the plan. Representatives of Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams were the only members who voted “yes” on the project.
The project faced significant opposition from residents and business owners in the area. The committee’s rejection seemed like a foregone conclusion after committee members publicly expressed opposition before the vote.
New York Casino Race Is Down To Final Four
Empire State gaming regulators are expected to award two of the three licenses to the two existing racinos in Yonkers and Queens. Those bids from MGM’s Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resorts World New York City in Queens both received committee approvals.
The third and final license is up for grabs between the Bally’s Bronx project and another project in Queens. Mets owner Steve Cohen partnered with the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock International for a casino and entertainment district outside Citi Field.
A community advisory committee approved their bid last week.
“While the Mets may not make the playoffs, I think we could consider this a home run for Citi Field and for Queens,” borough president Donovan Richards said during the committee meeting.
Regulators will announce the winners and award the licenses in January. Then, New York legislators might work towards online casino legislation.
