New York: Three casinos soon to be authorised!
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3 Dec 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes New York is preparing to take a historic step forward in the gambling sector. Three ambitious casino projects are in the running to obtain an official licence, a decision that could transform the state’s economic and urban landscape in the coming years.
A historic decision in the making
The issue of casinos in New York has reached a decisive stage. The state’s Gaming Facility Location Board has recommended that the last three candidates in the running each obtain a casino licence. This announcement marks the conclusion of a selection process begun earlier this year, during which the number of competing projects was reduced from eleven to three.
But this recommendation is not yet final: the New York State Gaming Commission will make the final decision before 31 December. Only three licences may be awarded, leaving uncertainty over the exact number of casinos to come.
Three flagship projects in competition
The three projects that could transform the New York casino landscape are ambitious and extremely expensive. The first, Bally’s Bronx, involves an investment of 2.3 billion dollars to develop a facility at Ferry Point. Next, the Metropolitan Park project, located near Citi Field in Queens and backed by Hard Rock and Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, has a budget of 5.3 billion dollars. Finally, Resorts World New York City, which already exists at Aqueduct, aims to extend its facilities to become a full casino with a budget of 3.3 billion dollars.
These figures are slightly lower than originally estimated, as the initial costs included licence fees and investment in local infrastructure. Each licence is estimated to cost at least $500 million.
A unanimous recommendation from the Board
The announcement of the recommendation was brief, but it follows weeks of meetings behind closed doors since 8 October. According to the Board, awarding the three licences would be the most favourable scenario for the economy, tax revenues and local communities. Each of the projects includes plans to improve infrastructure, public transport, support local businesses and develop community programmes.
Evaluations by external consulting firms estimate that, between 2027 and 2036, the three projects could generate around $7 billion in gaming taxes and $5.9 billion in other tax revenues. These figures illustrate the strategic importance of this decision for New York State, which could see its local economy and public finances strengthened by these new facilities.
However, the public announcement was punctuated by short protest demonstrations, the exact reasons for which were not specified.
Ambitious timetable for opening
With regard to the timetable, Resorts World is aiming for a rapid opening in March 2026, although the Board considers this deadline to be ambitious because of the authorisations and work required. Bally’s Bronx and Metropolitan Park are planning to open around 2030, a timetable that could also be affected by the scale of construction and urban density.
All the developers expressed their satisfaction with the recommendation. They emphasise the job creation and investment in local communities.
The Board’s recommendation is not binding. The New York State Gaming Commission will now examine the integrity and competence of the applicants, an assessment that the Board did not make. Although the recommendation calls for all three licences to be awarded, the Commission could decide to issue one, two or three. Uncertainty therefore remains until the official announcement, expected before 31 December.