NY casino vote updates
Both MGM Empire City and Resorts World NYC had long been considered favorites to receive two of three available operators’ licenses due to their presence in the Big Apple at existing racinos.
MGM Empire City went before a vote shortly after a 10:00 a.m. CAC meeting on Thursday. The vote ended 5-0 in favor of the project, confirming the project’s status as a favorite to receive a license when the final decision is made later this year.
“A casino license is a good deal for New York State, for Westchester County, and especially for Yonkers,” advisory board chair James Cavanaugh said during the meeting. “For that reason, I join the rest of my fellow committee members and vote yes.”
The second vote took place during the Resorts World CAC’s 3:00 p.m. meeting.
Positive sentiment was expressed by nearly everyone in attendance, and the gathering finished with a full vote in favor of the project, 6-0.
“We are incredibly grateful to the large number of residents, partners, and supporters who touted this project, without a single person speaking against it,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, in a statement after the vote. “This is a testament to our mission - solidified over the last 15 years - to be the best neighbor possible here in Queens.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., a member of the CAC, also used the meeting to send a crack at rapper Jay-Z, whose Times Square casino bid was rejected by its CAC last week.
Richards alluded to a time during Jay-Z’s musical career when he was at odds with rapper Nas, who was a part of the successful Resorts World project.
“There’s a theme in Queens, and I know that Nas was a part of this, ‘Queens get the money.’ Sorry, Jay-Z, we win again,” said Richards. “You can let the Brooklyn borough president know that I send my regards to him.
Casino plans and the remaining competitors
Plans for MGM Empire City call for an expansion of the racino’s existing facility to add live-dealer table games, a high-roller lounge, and a BetMGM in-person sportsbook, along with amenities such as eateries, a 5,000-seat entertainment venue, and a parking garage.
The current facility already supplies $30 million in annual tax revenue to the state. An upgraded location is expected to generate another $20 million annually, as well as thousands of new jobs. MGM also pledged to invest 10 percent of its gaming revenue into Yonkers.
Meanwhile, Resorts world’s $5.5 billion project would result in the creation of the largest integrated resort in the U.S. It would also develop 12 acres of new public greenspace, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, meeting and event space, and 30 new dining options.
Plans estimate that there will be 24,000 new jobs and $1 billion in incremental revenue during the casino’s first year of operations, which could begin in the middle of 2026. MGM Empire City said that its development could last until 2029.
The Times Square project, The Avenir, and Freedom Plaza, all in Manhattan, are out of the running to receive operators’ licenses.
The Coney in Coney Island is yet to have its vote taken, although several community members have promised to vote “No.”
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park is viewed as the favorite to receive a license, alongside MGM Empire City and Resorts World NYC.
Bally’s project at Ferry Point is also up for consideration, although it is working to meet a list of changes that were recently requested by its CAC.
