New York State Panel Greenlights Three Downstate Casino Projects, Paving Way for Gaming Expansion in NYC Region.
In a significant move towards expanding gaming in New York City, the state's Gaming Facility Location Board has recommended three downstate casino projects to be awarded licenses. The proposals, which have been under consideration for over a year, are expected to bring substantial economic activity and job creation to the region.
The three finalists – Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World New York City – were evaluated by the five-member board, which concluded that they all demonstrated the ability to generate significant revenue and meet the state's gaming standards. The projects are projected to collectively generate nearly $13 billion in new revenue for the state over the next decade.
The Bally’s Bronx project, a $2.3 billion venture located at Ferry Point in the Bronx, is set to open by 2030 and features a 500-room hotel, two parking garages, a 2000-seat event center, a golf course, night club, and 10 food and beverage venues.
The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, led by Mets owner Steve Cohen, is a $5.3 billion project in Queens that includes two hotels, a 5,600-seat entertainment venue, and 15 restaurants and bars. The project was initially held up for a year due to concerns from state Senator Jessica Ramos about its impact on the local community.
Resorts World New York City, an expansion of existing gaming facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, is a $3.3 billion venture that includes a new hotel, a 7,000-seat event center, and day club. The project is set to open next year, ahead of the other two projects.
While the Gaming Facility Location Board's recommendations carry significant weight, they are not the final say on licensing. The state Gaming Commission will have the ultimate authority over awarding licenses to any or all of the finalists, with the condition that license holders must pay a $500 million licensing fee to the state.
The board's decision is seen as a major step towards bringing gaming expansion to the New York City region, which is expected to bring significant revenue and job creation. However, not everyone is supportive of the plans, with some demonstrators expressing their opposition during the announcement.
In a significant move towards expanding gaming in New York City, the state's Gaming Facility Location Board has recommended three downstate casino projects to be awarded licenses. The proposals, which have been under consideration for over a year, are expected to bring substantial economic activity and job creation to the region.
The three finalists – Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World New York City – were evaluated by the five-member board, which concluded that they all demonstrated the ability to generate significant revenue and meet the state's gaming standards. The projects are projected to collectively generate nearly $13 billion in new revenue for the state over the next decade.
The Bally’s Bronx project, a $2.3 billion venture located at Ferry Point in the Bronx, is set to open by 2030 and features a 500-room hotel, two parking garages, a 2000-seat event center, a golf course, night club, and 10 food and beverage venues.
The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, led by Mets owner Steve Cohen, is a $5.3 billion project in Queens that includes two hotels, a 5,600-seat entertainment venue, and 15 restaurants and bars. The project was initially held up for a year due to concerns from state Senator Jessica Ramos about its impact on the local community.
Resorts World New York City, an expansion of existing gaming facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, is a $3.3 billion venture that includes a new hotel, a 7,000-seat event center, and day club. The project is set to open next year, ahead of the other two projects.
While the Gaming Facility Location Board's recommendations carry significant weight, they are not the final say on licensing. The state Gaming Commission will have the ultimate authority over awarding licenses to any or all of the finalists, with the condition that license holders must pay a $500 million licensing fee to the state.
The board's decision is seen as a major step towards bringing gaming expansion to the New York City region, which is expected to bring significant revenue and job creation. However, not everyone is supportive of the plans, with some demonstrators expressing their opposition during the announcement.
! It's about time we get more economic activity in our city. I mean, $13 billion is a crazy amount of cash that's gonna be pumped into these casinos and surrounding areas. Plus, it's not just about the benjamins - think of all the jobs that are gonna be created for people in NYC. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good gaming experience? 
I'm curious to see how these projects turn out, especially since Resorts World is opening up next year. It'll be interesting to see what kind of vibe they bring to Aqueduct Racetrack.
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these new casino projects are gonna be huge for nyc, think of all the jobs and cash that's gonna be generated 
i mean its not just about the casinos themselves, but also the hotels, restaurants, bars... it's a whole ecosystem 
but at the same time, gotta wonder if we're ready for this kinda thing in our city, traffic jams already bad, can you imagine with all these new tourists and gamblers 
And what's up with the cost? $13 billion?! That's just insane. We're talking about the people who are actually going to have to pay those taxes and live in the area... do they even get any benefits from this? I don't think so, at least not for a long time.
and it's all gonna come together in just 5 years! i was at the hard rock cafe downtown last year and it was crazy busy, can you imagine the crowds they're gonna bring in?! 
but for real, this is huge for ny state economy and job creation. i'm all about seeing new businesses pop up especially in a city that's always on the go like nyc 
I'm not sure how I feel about these new casino projects coming to downstate NY. On one hand, it's gonna be a huge economic boost for the area and create tons of jobs - that's def worth celebrating. 
i mean yeah it's about time we get some jobs and economic growth going on but are they gonna make sure these places don't turn into just another strip club and poker room?