(The Center Square) — New York gaming regulators have approved three downstate casinos, clearing a crucial and final hurdle to bring Las Vegas-style gambling to the nation’s largest city.
The state Gaming Commission voted Monday to recommend casinos for locations in Metropolitan Park at Willets Point, Queens, Resorts World New York City at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens and Bally’s Bronx in Throggs Neck on a former golf course owned by President Donald Trump.
Gov. Kathy Hochul praised regulators for approving the casinos, saying they will “generate billions of dollars for the MTA and education, create tens of thousands of jobs and deliver real benefits to their surrounding communities.”
“Each of the projects made significant commitments to their communities and to New York State, and the Gaming Commission was clear that they will hold these projects accountable and make sure they keep their promises,” she said in a statement.
The projects include a casino on a Bronx property that’s currently home to a city-owned golf course, which Bally’s paid the Trump Organization $60 million to lease, according to the development agreement. If the casino plan is approved, the city would shell out another $115 million to Trump’s company.
In July, Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a City Council motion to reject a land use application for the Bally’s project, citing the need for jobs and investment in the neighborhood.
New York State voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2013 allowing up to seven casinos in the state, with up to three reserved for the New York City region. The four existing upstate casinos were approved years ago.
The state expects to get $1.5 billion in licensing fees and an additional $5.9 billion from other taxes derived from the newly approved projects. The additional revenue would help buoy New York state’s budget as it manages rising costs for health care, education and infrastructure improvements and diminishing federal aid.
Revenue from the three casinos could reach $5.5 billion by 2033, drumming up $7 billion in tax revenue for the state between 2027 and 2036, according to state gaming officials.
In a statement, Cohen welcomed final approval of the Metropolitan Park casino project, saying it will provide the sports and entertainment district “that fans and the community have requested for years.”
“Since the day I bought the team, the community and Mets fans have made it clear to me that we can and should do better with the area around the ballpark,” he said. “Now, we are going to be able to deliver the sports and entertainment district that our fans have been asking for. “It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves.”
