Eight Groups Submit Applications For New York Casino Licenses
Three Manhattan-based proposals among the eight submitted to the state with no last-minute surprises among applicants
The list is down from 11 and there are three licenses available
3 min
Welcome to Thunderdome: New York casino edition.
The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (NYSGFLB) announced Friday that eight bids were submitted prior to the 4 p.m. local deadline for the three downstate casino licenses being offered by the state’s gaming commission.
Reaching this point in the timeline of the process comes after years of plans, promises, and proposals that occasionally required political positioning and posturing. There were no late surprises among the eight groups that submitted applications, as some have been providing details of their proposals as far back as 2023.
The following are the eight applicants in alphabetical order with their proposed locations in parentheses:
- The Avenir (Manhattan)
- Bally’s New York Casino (The Bronx)
- Caesars Palace Times Square (Manhattan)
- Freedom Plaza (Manhattan)
- Metropolitan Park (Queens)
- MGM Empire City (Yonkers)
- Resorts World New York City (Queens)
- The Coney (Brooklyn)
Each group selected will have to pay a $500 million license fee and commit to a minimum $500 million capital investment in the area of their proposed venue.
Original list included 11 bidders
The list of eight is whittled from an initial group of 11 that announced interest when the NYSGFB officially opened the bidding window in January 2023. The deadline in the bill creating the licenses was originally Aug. 31, 2024, but the board in June 2024 extended that to today.
In the last three months, Las Vegas Sands (Nassau County), Wynn Resorts (Hudson Yards), and Hudson Bay Company (Saks Fifth Avenue) all pulled out.
What they’re saying in Manhattan…
“Our team is proud to submit our application for The Avenir, a $7 billion mixed-use casino, hotel, restaurant, entertainment, and public art complex that will bring transformational benefits to Manhattan’s West Side communities while generating the greatest economic benefit to New York State.”
“This application represents years of meaningful listening and collaboration, and it will uniquely deliver what New Yorkers need most: accessible green space, housing that working families can afford, and well-paying union jobs.”
Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group
“New Yorkers have the opportunity to do something truly extraordinary right in the heart of the most iconic entertainment district in the world. This proposal brings together an unmatched location, unmatched access, and unmatched team to deliver a project worthy of New York.”
Thomas R. Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment
…and in Yonkers…
“Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway have anchored the entertainment and tourism culture in downstate New York for more than a century. Achieving a full casino license will ensure this site will continue to be a cultural and economic force for generations to come.”
Bill Hornbuckle, President and CEO of MGM Resorts International
…and over in Queens…
“This is the product of over four years of working hand in hand with the community, local leaders, and Mets fans. Now, with this application, we’re one step closer to delivering thousands of good-paying union jobs, a vibrant new park, and year-round entertainment that reflects the energy of Queens.”
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen
“Fifteen years ago, Resorts World made a promise to turn this site into an economic engine for Southeast Queens, New York City, and New York State. And we succeeded … Today is a major milestone for us to propose the world-class Resorts World Integrated Resort and further commit to this partnership and provide new career opportunities and tax revenue almost immediately, as soon as July 2026.”
Robert DeSalvio, president, Genting Americas East
…and in Brooklyn
“Far and away the most important piece of this RFA that the Facility Location Board will consider is the positive impact a project will have on economic and business development. No other project comes close to what The Coney can do for Coney Island,” said Dan Boren – Board Chairman, Global Gaming Solutions, and Secretary of Commerce, The Chickasaw Nation. “We’ve spent years engaging with the community so that we could put together a bid that combines the needs of the neighborhood with the stated goals of New York State.”
What comes next
Per the NYSGFB official website, the Board will create a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for each application submitted. Those eight CACs will “review the application, gauge local support, and ultimately issue a finding determining whether there is adequate support for the proposed project.”
For the three Manhattan-based proposals, the CACs will have six members comprised of:
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams
- The applicable New York State Senator
- The applicable New York State Assemblymember
- Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine
- The applicable New York City Councilmember
For the other five proposals, the CACs will be a five or six-member committee comprised of:
- Hochul
- Adams
- The applicable New York State Senator
- The applicable New York State Assemblymember
- The applicable locality’s senior elected official. For a proposal located in a city, it would be the mayor; for a proposal in a town, the town supervisor; for a proposal in a village, both the village mayor and town supervisor will serve on the CAC.
The CACs are required to elect a chair at the first meeting, solicit and review public comments, and hold public meetings. The CAC would then hold a vote requiring a two-thirds threshold to establish public support either approving or disapproving an applicant. From there, the facility location board will only consider applications that received the minimum two-thirds threshold of approval.
