New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani promised this week not to use City Hall as a brake to terminate casino projects already approved by the state, even if he personally harbors doubts about them. He made clear that state authorities will decide locations and grant licenses, and promised to stick by the procedure.
Key Takeaways
- Zohran Mamdani said he will not try to block state-authorized casino projects.
- Times Square casino proposal faces an organized opposition coalition.
- Any New York City bid must clear a community advisory committee before the state awards three downstate licenses.
The clarification comes as debates intensify over a proposed Caesars Palace Times Square resort. Opposition groups under the NO TIMES SQUARE CASINO banner argue that a casino would upset the district's cultural and economic balance.
Backers contend the project would deliver jobs and funding, while Caesars has projected more than 9,000 union positions and over $250 million in community benefits. The company says its bid has support from more than 200 businesses and organizations. Regardless of individual positions, approval will hinge on Albany's framework.
In 2023, lawmakers approved a proposal to permit as many as three downstate casino licenses. In New York City, any petition first has to get through a community advisory committee made up of state, borough, and city representatives, and only then will the state make the final selections.
Mamdani reiterated that state law, not the mayor, governs site selection and licensing.
Citi Field casino bid gains momentum
Following the Times Square debate, attention has shifted to Queens, where a proposal for a casino across from Citi Field is drawing favorable odds. Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who opposes a casino anywhere in the city, acknowledged that the plan led by Mets owner Steve Cohen has a very good chance of approval.
Observers widely expect the two existing racinos at Yonkers Raceway and Aqueduct in Queens to convert to full casinos, leaving a single license for a new downstate development.
That final slot sets up competition among bids in Coney Island, Times Square, Manhattan's East Side, and the Citi Field proposal.
Hard Rock scandal clouds Queens casino push
Momentum around the Queens bid coincides with scrutiny of Hard Rock International, Steve Cohen's partner on the proposed $8 billion complex. In early August, Hard Rock dismissed Alex Pariente, senior vice president for hotel and casino operations, after a whistleblower alleged improper cash handling and unpaid credit markers tied to the company's Punta Cana property in the Dominican Republic.
The whistleblower, high-stakes gambler RJ Cipriani, alleged that an employee, at Pariente's direction, accepted a $100,000 deposit from a Chinese national. He then allegedly broke it into 33 separate $3,000 transactions to avoid anti-money laundering reporting thresholds.
The episode, along with other claimed lapses, has raised compliance concerns as New York regulators prepare to evaluate bidders' suitability.
Background and integrity reviews form a core part of the licensing process, and any adverse findings could complicate approvals for the Hard Rock-Cohen partnership at Citi Field.
