Four Proposals, Including MGM Empire City in Yonkers, Vie for Up to Three Full Downstate Casino Licenses

YONKERS—There are now four players seated for what will be a high-stakes game with each putting billions of dollars in chips 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 players were cashed out after being rejected recently by their respective Community Advisory Committees.

Approved by their respective Community Advisory Committees were: 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 Tuesday (Sept. 30) thanks to a unanimous 6-0 vote by its CAC. The projects had a deadline of securing CAC approval by Sept. 30.

The CACs for the Manhattan-based multi-billion-dollar Freedom Plaza, the Avenir and Caesars Palace Times Square as well as for The Coney in Brooklyn rejected those projects, each by a 4-2 vote. Those projects cannot advance for consideration by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board and then ultimately by 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 Terminals (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.