The race for New York’s three downstate casino licenses has intensified. The Coney Island proposal has been thrown out, but Bally’s plans got the seal of approval.
Key Takeaways
- The proposed $3 billion Coney Island boardwalk casino has been rejected 4-2 by a community panel.
- Bally’s bid to build a 500,000-square-foot casino satisfied the committee and was approved 5-1.
- There are currently three New York casino licences up for grabs.
Proposals for a $3-billion Coney Island casino were rejected Monday, with a community panel voting 4-2 against the plans.
The idea centered around the construction of a brand new casino on the boardwalk. Those putting the plans forward argued that the area, which is already a popular summer destination, might then start to attract more foot traffic in the winter months. Supporters also raised the issue of employment, claiming that the jobs a new casino would provide would be beneficial to an area with high levels of unemployment.
Those against the construction of a boardwalk casino were adamant that its downsides would far outweigh any economic benefits it might bring. It was suggested that the casino would result in increased traffic congestion, as well as a possible spike in crime.
The rejection is the end of the road for the proposal; it will now go no further. However, progress was made on a bid by Bally to build a 500-room hotel and a 500,000-square-foot casino on a golf course once run by the Trump Organization. Unlike the Coney Island plans, Bally’s $4 billion Bronx proposal gained the seal of approval 5-1.
There are currently three new casino licences up for grabs in New York, and Bally is tipped to take one of those. Having gained the approval of representatives appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Borough President Vanessa Gibson, state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez and Assembly Michael Benedetto, its plans are now taking another step towards being finalized. Next, they’ll face further review by the gaming facility location board.
The news comes following confirmation last week that the New York Community Advisory Committee had voted in support of MGM Resorts’ Empire City application to take another of the coveted full-casino licenses. The Resorts World NYC casino proposal also gained unanimous approval. Both are now headed to the Gaming Facility Location Board for further consideration.
Other proposals weren’t so lucky. Like the Coney Island bid, the Freedom Plaza casino project was rejected by the committee. The failure of this vote, and that of the Avenir at Hudson Yards, mean that Manhattan is now formally out of the running for a new casino.
