Presumably, the competition for the coveted downstate New York casino licenses is ended.  Todd Shriber of Casino.org and I, who have been forecasting which bids will win for months, are not surprised by the three likely winners.

The Community Advisory Committees (CAC) for Caesars Palace Times Square, Hell's Kitchen's The Avenir, and Midtown East's Freedom Plaza recently voted 4-2 against permitting the multibillion-dollar investments to proceed.  Only bids that receive three-fifths majority approval from their assigned CAC will be taken into consideration by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which must award the three coveted downstate gaming concessions by December 1.

Only four of the five remaining candidates are anticipated to receive CAC support.  They are Metropolitan Park in Willets Point in Queens, Resorts World New York City at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and MGM Empire City in Yonkers, Westchester County.  Bally's Bronx, a fourth casino bid, is also probably going to receive a CAC recommendation.  However, there are other issues with the Bally's concept.

Throughout the process, Empire City and Resorts World have been regarded as the leading downstate casinos.  Experts in the gaming sector and analysts have long assumed that MGM Resorts and Genting, a Malaysian company, would receive a license to operate slots, live-dealer table games, and retail sports betting in return for their long-standing investments and community service in the area.

 

DOA for Coney Island

Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings, Global Gaming Solutions of the Chickasaw Nation, and Legends are the partners behind The Coney.  The proposal, which aims to transform the Brooklyn beach hamlet into a year-round vacation spot and an economic revolution through new jobs, taxes, and local investments, has been met with strong opposition from the local population.

The $3 billion casino has been officially opposed by Brooklyn Community Board 13, which solely advises the City Council.  At least three committee members have already stated that they will vote "nay," although though the Coney CAC vote isn't scheduled until September 29.

Among the opponents is Justin Brannon, a city councilman who represents the Brooklyn neighborhood and is the chair of the Coney CAC.

"Coney Island must remain the People’s Playground. A place where hard work, grit, and fun in the sun for everyday New Yorkers always comes before profit. For that reason, I will not support the Coney Island casino,” Brannan said.

The D-Kings and Richmond counties' state senator, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, will likewise vote nay.

“Since the New York State Gaming Commission’s casino licensing process began and The Coney’s application was presented, I was clear that I would allow this process to play out, but would ultimately vote in the direction of what the majority of the community that I represent wants, needs, and deserves. After taking part in two public hearings with my constituents about their thoughts, perspectives, and concerns regarding this application, I have decided to vote in opposition,” she said.

The Coney presentation was deemed "deeply unimpressive and unresponsive to the needs, desires, and rich history of the Coney Island community," according to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

 

The Metropolitan Park

The casino bid made by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock at the billionaire's Citi Field, home of the MLB New York Mets, has consistently been regarded as a successful application.  When Caesars, The Avenir, and Freedom Plaza lost CAC votes and Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts withdrew from their NYC projects, its chances only became better.

At least one "nay" vote will be cast for the Metropolitan Park CAC by state senator Jessica Ramos (D-Queens).  However, the casino is openly supported by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblymember Larinda Hooks (D-Queens), and New York City Councilmember Francisco Moya.

The Hard Rock/Cohen project would only be moved to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board with a fourth support, either from NYC Mayor Eric Adams or Gov. Kathy Hochul's appointees.  All three rejected projects have received votes from Hochul and Adams designees, who are anticipated to cast "yes" votes on the remaining applications.

 

Bally's Long Odds in the Bronx

Bally's Corp.'s proposal to construct an integrated resort casino at the Ferry Point Golf Links, which it oversees on behalf of the city, is likewise met with strong community opposition in the Bronx.  In July, the New York City Council denied a land-use zoning modification that would have permitted the commercial gambling company to operate on city parks, while the Bronx Community Board 10 voted against the Bally's Bronx plan.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D), a highly unpopular politician whose detractors claim he vetoed the council's resolution merely to curry favor with the Trump administration, salvaged the Bally's Bronx proposal on his own. According to Adams, the Bronx only merited being regarded similarly to the other boroughs.

When Trump sold the golf course lease to Bally's in 2023, he imposed conditions that would give the Trump Organization $115 million if Bally's were to gain a downstate New York gaming license.

Bally's Bronx is most likely to receive a "nay" vote from New York City Councilmember Kristy Marmorato (R-Northeast Bronx).  However, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assemblymember Michael Benedetto (D-Throggs Neck), and Senator Nathalia Fernandez (D-Bronx) have all expressed support for the Bally's proposal.

With Hochul and Adams both having votes, it appears likely that Bally's Bronx will receive four "yes" votes.  However, it is anticipated that the Gaming Facility Location Board will choose the Hard Rock plan because to the New City Council's resistance to permitting the casino to operate on city-owned parkland and several worries about Bally's faltering corporate finances and its capacity to acquire cash.