MGM, Resorts World, and Exhausting Rock Will Possible Win in New York

• The bidding battle for the three downstate on line casino licenses will formally finish December 1
• MGM, Genting, and Exhausting Rock have emerged because the frontrunners

The race for the long-sought-after downstate New York on line casino licenses is presumably over. The three seemingly winners come as little shock to On line casino.org’s Todd Shriber, in addition to me, who for a lot of months have been predicting which bids will prevail.

The chances are good that considered one of three downstate New York casinos can be positioned throughout the Queensboro Bridge in Queens. The third is anticipated in Yonkers. (Picture: Shutterstock)

In current days, the Group Advisory Committees (CAC) for Caesars Palace Occasions Sq., The Avenir in Hell’s Kitchen, and Freedom Plaza in Midtown East all voted 4-2 in opposition to permitting the multibillion-dollar investments to maneuver ahead. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which is to award the three coveted downstate gaming concessions earlier than December 1, can solely take into account bids that safe a three-fifths majority assist from their designated CAC.

Although 5 candidates stay, solely 4 are anticipated to subject CAC backing. They’re MGM Empire Metropolis in Westchester County’s Yonkers, Resorts World New York Metropolis on the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and Metropolitan Park at Willets Level in Queens. A fourth on line casino bid — Bally’s Bronx — can be more likely to subject a CAC endorsement. However the Bally’s plan comes with a myriad of considerations.

Empire Metropolis and Resorts World have been thought of the downstate on line casino front-runners all through the method. Analysts and gaming business consultants have lengthy thought that MGM Resorts and Malaysia-based Genting can be awarded a slots, live-dealer desk video games, and retail sports activities betting license in trade for his or her longstanding neighborhood commitments and investments within the area.

Coney Island DOA

The Coney is a undertaking from Thor Equities, Saratoga On line casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation’s World Gaming Options, and Legends. Designed to revitalize the Brooklyn seaside city right into a year-round vacation spot and an financial rebellion by means of new jobs, taxes, and native investments, the bid has confronted stern backlash from the neighborhood.

Brooklyn Group Board 13, which serves solely in an advisory capability to the Metropolis Council, has formally opposed the $3 billion on line casino. Although The Coney CAC vote isn’t anticipated till September 29, no less than three of the committee members have already confirmed they’re “nay” votes.

The Coney CAC Chair Justin Brannon, a metropolis councilmember representing the Brooklyn neighborhood, is among the many opposition.

Coney Island should stay the Folks’s Playground. A spot the place exhausting work, grit, and enjoyable within the solar for on a regular basis New Yorkers all the time comes earlier than revenue. For that cause, I can’t assist the Coney Island on line casino,” Brannan stated.

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-Kings, Richmond counties) will even vote no.

“Because the New York State Gaming Fee’s on line casino licensing course of started and The Coney’s software was introduced, I used to be clear that I might permit this course of to play out, however would finally vote within the path of what nearly all of the neighborhood that I symbolize needs, wants, and deserves. After collaborating in two public hearings with my constituents about their ideas, views, and considerations relating to this software, I’ve determined to vote in opposition,” she stated.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso stated The Coney pitch was “deeply unimpressive and unresponsive to the wants, needs, and wealthy historical past of the Coney Island neighborhood.”

Metropolitan Park

Exhausting Rock and Steve Cohen’s on line casino bid on the billionaire’s Citi Area, the place his MLB New York Mets play, has frequently been seen as a robust software. Its odds solely improved when Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts folded on their NYC initiatives, and CAC votes went in opposition to Caesars, The Avenir, and Freedom Plaza.

The Metropolitan Park CAC can have no less than one “nay” vote in state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens). However Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblymember Larinda Hooks (D-Queens), and New York Metropolis Councilmember Francisco Moya all publicly assist the on line casino.

Solely a fourth endorsement, both from appointees of Gov. Kathy Hochul or NYC Mayor Eric Adams, would transfer the Exhausting Rock/Cohen undertaking to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. Designees from Hochul and Adams have voted in favor of all three dismissed initiatives, and are anticipated to vote “yay” on all remaining purposes.

Bally’s Bronx Odds Prolonged

Within the Bronx, there’s additionally stern neighborhood opposition to Bally’s Corp.’s plan to construct an built-in resort on line casino on the Ferry Level Golf Hyperlinks, which the corporate manages on the town’s behalf. The Bronx Group Board 10 has voted in opposition to the Bally’s Bronx bid, and in July, the New York Metropolis Council rejected a crucial land-use zoning change to permit the industrial gaming enterprise to function on the town parkland.

The Bally’s Bronx scheme was saved singlehandedly by NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D), a wildly unpopular politician whose critics say he vetoed the council’s choice merely to achieve favor among the many Trump administration. Adams says the Bronx solely deserved to be thought of like the opposite boroughs.

The Trump Group would obtain $115 million if Bally’s wins a downstate New York gaming license, phrases that Trump included in promoting the golf course lease to Bally’s in 2023.

New York Metropolis Councilmember Kristy Marmorato (R-Northeast Bronx) is sort of definitely a “nay” vote for Bally’s Bronx. However Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (D-Bronx), Assemblymember Michael Benedetto (D-Throggs Neck), and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson have voiced assist for the Bally’s plan.

With Adams having a vote, together with Hochul, Bally’s Bronx gaining 4 “yea” votes appears seemingly. Nonetheless, due to the New Metropolis Council’s opposition to permitting the on line casino to function on city-owned parkland, and plenty of considerations relating to Bally’s struggling company funds and its capability to lift capital, it’s anticipated that the Gaming Facility Location Board will go together with the Exhausting Rock plan.