New York casino race heats up with latest hearings for Freedom Plaza, Resorts World NYC and Bally’s Bronx
Summary
Monday saw three key hearings as the downstate New York casino competition intensifies ahead of the 30 September deadline for community advisory committee (CAC) votes. Freedom Plaza and Resorts World NYC each held second public hearings, while the Bally’s Bronx CAC met in private to propose a suite of amendments. Two-thirds support from CACs is needed to advance bids to state review.
Key Points
- 30 September is the cutoff for CAC votes; a two-thirds majority is required (four of six members in NYC bids; four of five for MGM Empire City in Yonkers).
- Freedom Plaza (Soloviev Group & Mohegan Gaming) is the largest bid at a projected $11 billion; includes casino, hotels, residences and a Museum of Democracy. Polling shows local support rising from 61% in Dec 2024 to 66% now, but casino elements draw significant resident opposition.
- Resorts World NYC held a unanimous second hearing with broad community and political support. The site is an established VLT facility seeking a phased $5.5 billion expansion and is widely viewed as a frontrunner.
- Bally’s Bronx CAC uniquely proposed amendments across nine categories — from community-led benefit fund governance to parks, employment, traffic, transparency, environment and public safety. Bally’s has until 5pm on 19 September to respond or the amendments will be considered rejected.
- Caesars Times Square and Avenir are the first to be scheduled for CAC votes (set for Wednesday morning), which may signal a reluctance to extend hearings further for other bids.
- Developers have marshalled visible support — including employees (reported travel by party bus) and unions — while many local residents remain strongly opposed to placing casinos in dense urban neighbourhoods.
- Economic claims are prominent: Freedom Plaza promises up to 25,000 construction jobs; Resorts World points to nearly $1 billion annual revenue and billions contributed in state taxes from its existing VLT operation.
- The CAC process requires a minimum of two hearings but can be extended. Several projects remain without scheduled vote dates, indicating unresolved local concerns and potential negotiation ahead of the state review stage.
Context and relevance
This round of hearings will shape which projects reach state consideration and ultimately determine where three new downstate licences may land. The outcomes will influence local development, jobs, tax revenue and neighbourhood character — and test how well longstanding VLT operations (Resorts World) and large new proposals (Freedom Plaza) fare against community resistance and regulatory scrutiny. The Bally’s amendment process also shows CACs can demand concrete commitments, potentially setting precedents for community bargaining in future developments.
Why should I read this
Quick and blunt — if you care about NYC planning, jobs, local politics or the gambling sector, this story tells you which bids are steaming ahead, which face real pushback and where the fights will land before the 30 September deadline. Saves you listening to hours of hearings.