Bally’s Claims NY Officials are Blocking Casino Over Trump Connection

The leader of Bally’s Corporation believes that politics are getting in the way of the New York casino licensing process.

Soo Kim, chairman of the casino and gaming company, said that Bally’s bid is being unfairly pushed down the totem pole since President Donald Trump stands to gain from it receiving a casino operator’s license.

This comes after The City Council on Wednesday refused to vote on legislation that would allow Bally’s to convert part of its facility’s golf course space into a casino.

How does the President tie in?

Bally’s is hoping to land one of three available licenses for its property at Ferry Point Park. The land includes an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course once known as Trump Golf Links at Ferry Points.

The Trump Organization in 2023 sold the golf course lease to Bally’s for $60 million. The sale included a clause that entitled The Trump Organization to an extra $115 million in the event that Bally’s landed a casino license for the land, which is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

“They’re saying, ‘If Bally’s wins, Trump benefits.’ That’s crazy,” Kim said to the New York Post while discussing a whisper campaign against his company.

According to Kim, the entire Bronx would benefit from a casino at Ferry Point. The company already presented $600 million in community benefits that would result from a new gaming destination, along with temporary and permanent union jobs and a dramatic increase in economic stimulus. 

Plans for the facility call for a 500,000-square-foot casino with a 500-room hotel, a spa, meeting space, retail stores, a 2,000-seat theater, and two parking garages with nearly 5,000 spaces.

“[The Council is] moving the goalpost,” Kim said after the Wednesday vote did not materialize. “If we don’t get a vote in the City Council, we can’t advance our bid.”

An important month ahead

New York has strict rules regarding the use of public space and parkland, and Bally’s cannot operate a casino at the planned location until a vote greenlights that.

Kim’s frustrations can be directed toward City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens), who blocked the vote. 

She’s one of 45 Democrats on the 51-person council. Trump is a Republican.

Local officials denied the idea they were conspiring against Bally’s and said the entire process is still undergoing its natural progression.

“We’re still working on home rule messages for state legislation,” said council spokesperson Mandela Jones. “The process hasn’t been completed for this legislative session.”

Bally’s and other interested casino bidders have until June 28 to submit their applications to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. It is expected that all zoning and land-use agreements will be completed by the time the applications are submitted.

State lawmakers earlier this year passed legislation to rezone Queens parkland to help New York Mets owner Steve Cohen further his bid. He is one of at least seven bidders for three licenses.