Bally’s Bronx Casino Project Advances Thanks to New York City Mayor Eric Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) helped coax local officials into forwarding Bally’s proposal for a Bronx casino.

The New York City Council on Wednesday, after receiving positive comments from Adams, voted to approve parkland alienation legislation that stood in the way of the Bally’s proposal. With that cleared up, the application can proceed to its final steps.

Casino operator’s license applications are due to the New York Division of Gaming Enforcement by June 27.

A key nod of approval

Parkland alienation votes normally require 34 votes for approval. Adams’ 11th-hour endorsement lowered the necessary threshold to 26, which the Council easily met in a 32-12 count with seven abstained votes. 

The vote will allow Bally’s to convert part of its Golf Links Ferry Point course into casino campus space. 

The casino company believed that its golf course, which was leased from President Donald Trump, had created a political deadlock that prevented the company’s application from progressing. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen also needed to have parkland alienation passed for his project, a process he finished without much of a hitch.  

Not only did Bally’s lease the land from the Trump Organization for $60 million, but they are also liable for another $115 million to the Trump Organization if they receive a casino operator’s license. 

“They’re saying, ‘If Bally’s wins, Trump benefits.’ That’s crazy,” Kim said to the New York Post after a previously scheduled vote did not come to be. “[The Council is] moving the goalpost. If we don’t get a vote in the City Council, we can’t advance our bid.”

Despite the perceived political opposition, Councilwoman Kristy Mamarato, a Republican who represents Ferry Point, was one of the 12 members who voted “no.” Five other Republicans also voted against the project, citing “outside interference” and “special interests.”

Plans for a Bronx casino

With the parkland matter wrapped up, Bally’s can progress with its plans for a 500,000-square-foot casino in the Bronx. 

The planned facility will be outfitted with a 500-room hotel, a spa, meeting space, retail stores, a 2,000-seat event center, and two parking garages equaling space for 4,660 vehicles.

“Mayor Adams supports a fair process with as many competitive casino bids in New York City as possible, each of which would bring good-paying union jobs and an economic boost to the community,” a spokesman for the Mayor said. “It does not matter which proposal is selected by the state so long as it’s in New York City. We would be supportive of more than one selection in New York City, but that requires more than one competitive proposal.”

A Bally’s official also expressed his thanks after Mayor Adams helped get the vote over the line.

“We appreciate the City Council, including the Speaker and Bronx Delegation in particular, for recognizing the opportunity that this project can afford to the Bronx and the City as a whole,” said Bally’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Christopher Jewett. “Their actions today allow us to move forward to the next step of making this happen for NYC.”

The Justice Department earlier this year dropped corruption charges that were levied against Adams during President Biden’s administration. The charges were presented after Adams openly criticized Biden’s immigration policy, which resulted in an inundation of undocumented persons.