Manhattan Casino Dreams Come to an End as Panel Rejects Final Proposal
Summary
Punchy take: Manhattan’s bid to host a Las Vegas-style resort has been halted — again — after the Community Advisory Committee voted down the final proposal.
On 22 September the Community Advisory Committee rejected the “Freedom Plaza” plan by a 4-2 vote. The proposed $11 billion, six-acre development south of the United Nations was backed by the Soloviev Group and Mohegan. Despite last-minute pledges — including more than 1,000 affordable homes and community reinvestment — the scheme failed to win local support.
This follows recent rejections of two other high-profile Manhattan bids (Times Square and Hudson Yards), leaving Manhattan out of contention for up to three downstate licences. The casino licence race now focuses on proposals in Queens, the Bronx, Coney Island and Yonkers, with state regulators aiming to award licences by December, though local approvals remain necessary.
Key Points
- The Community Advisory Committee voted 4-2 to reject the Freedom Plaza casino proposal on 22 September.
- The Freedom Plaza plan was a proposed $11 billion, six-acre resort backed by the Soloviev Group and Mohegan.
- Developers pledged over 1,000 affordable homes and community investments, but local opposition on traffic, safety and strain on infrastructure prevailed.
- Two earlier Manhattan bids (Times Square and Hudson Yards) were also rejected, removing Manhattan from the race for downstate casino licences.
- Remaining contenders are all outside Manhattan: Queens (Citi Field and Aqueduct), Coney Island, the Bronx (former Trump golf course) and Yonkers.
- State regulators expect to award licences by December; however, successful bids still require local approvals and face political pushback.
- City Hall criticised the outcome, saying the borough lost potential billions in investment, housing and schools.
Context and relevance
This decision is a turning point in New York’s planned expansion of commercial gambling: what was once imagined as Manhattan’s prize development is now most likely to proceed in outer boroughs or nearby cities. The outcome signals that strong neighbourhood opposition — centered on congestion, public safety and protecting the UN precinct — can outweigh large-scale job and investment promises.
For industry watchers, urban planners and investors, the ruling reshapes where future casino-related development, jobs and infrastructure spending might land across the New York region.
Why should I read this
Want the short, no-nonsense version? Manhattan’s big casino dreams just fizzled — again. If you care about where billions of dollars, new homes and hundreds of jobs might actually go in New York, this explains why the action is moving out of the borough and what that means for the licence race. Quick read, big implications.