- Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano desires to know why MGM deserted its Empire Metropolis On line casino bid
- Spano thinks President Donald Trump may have one thing to do with it
MGM Resorts Worldwide shocked the US gaming business on Tuesday night when it abruptly yanked its $2.3 billion plans to overtake its Empire Metropolis On line casino in Yonkers right into a full-fledged on line casino with Las Vegas-style slot machines, live-dealer desk video games, and sports activities betting. MGM’s clarification for its withdrawal wasn’t ok for Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano (D).
President Donald Trump factors to the newly raised US flag exterior the White Home on July 13, 2025. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano alleges that MGM Resorts’ exit from the New York on line casino bidding has one thing to do with the president’s enterprise empire. (Picture: Shutterstock)
MGM was thought-about the betting front-runner for one of many three obtainable downstate New York on line casino licenses. Empire Metropolis is presently a video lottery racino that may solely provide VLT slot-like gaming machines and digital desk video games.
MGM purchased Empire Metropolis in 2019 for $850 million. Many noticed the acquisition as MGM’s strategy to achieve an higher hand in acquiring one of many once-coveted downstate on line casino concessions.
Now, MGM, which beforehand acknowledged Empire Metropolis can not survive with out a full gaming license, has folded on its NYC pursuit. Spano desires solutions.
“This choice by MGM defies all logic, and it’s nothing wanting a betrayal to the folks of Yonkers and Westchester County,” Spano stated. “I’m calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to launch an unbiased investigation into this course of, as a result of the explanations MGM offers for its 180-degree reversal simply don’t add up.”
MGM’s Explanations
MGM stated its Empire Metropolis pursuit was not enticing after the bidding was narrowed right down to 4 bids. The Bellagio operator cited the “clustered” remaining bids, with two remaining for Queens and a 3rd within the Bronx.
The three non-MGM bids are all nearer to Manhattan than Yonkers. It’s a seemingly legitimate purpose — a bunch of partiers consuming and consuming in Manhattan late into the evening who determine they wish to gamble could be far likelier to take a brief cab to Queens than make the greater than 30-minute journey to Empire Metropolis.
MGM additionally cited unfavorable tax situations and its expectation of receiving a 15-year gaming license as an alternative of a extra advantageous 30-year concession.
Spano believes there’s extra to the story — and it has to do with President Donald Trump.
Trump’s Hand Improves
MGM’s exit leaves solely three remaining bids for the downstate area, all of that are in New York Metropolis. They’re Resorts World’s $5.5 billion overhaul of its VLT racino on the Queens Aqueduct Racetrack, Laborious Rock and Steve Cohen’s $8 billion greenfield growth at Willets Level in Queens adjoining to the billionaire’s Citi Subject Ballpark, and Bally’s Bronx’s $4 billion venture at Bally’s Hyperlinks Golf Hyperlinks at Ferry Level within the Bronx.
The Trump Group bought the lease to the city-owned Bronx golf course to Bally’s Corp. in 2023 for a reported $60 million. The sale, like MGM’s takeover of Empire Metropolis, was seen as Bally’s formal entrance into the New York on line casino race.
The Trump Group, held by President Donald Trump and managed by his sons whereas he serves in Washington, DC, included a caveat within the 2023 phrases that requires Bally’s to pay the corporate an extra $115 million if it procures the fitting to construct a on line casino resort on the parkland at any level sooner or later.
It’s no secret that the large winner from this reversal shall be Bally’s for a on line casino on the former Trump Hyperlinks. It’s additionally no secret that Bally’s has a take care of Donald Trump that they may pay him an extra $115 million if they’ll open a on line casino there,” Spano stated.
“Folks must be assured that there isn’t a linkage between MGM’s choice and the large monetary profit to Donald Trump,” Spano continued. “The folks of Yonkers should know if this course of was tainted or manipulated in any manner.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams singlehandedly rescued the Bally’s Bronx bid when he vetoed a Metropolis Council choice to not approve a land-use software to permit a industrial enterprise growth on the city-owned property. Adams has been accused of utilizing his lame duck days to enhance his odds of touchdown a job within the Trump administration come 2026.
A number of consultants on the Bally’s workforce even have Trump ties, none extra so than Steve Witkoff, the particular envoy to the Center East and Peace Missions. Witkoff owned the unfinished on line casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip that may grow to be generally known as Fontainebleau after he bought it to Koch Actual Property Investments in 2021.
