Deadline Looms for NYC Casino License Contenders

MGM Empire City

Location: Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, Westchester County (just north of the Bronx)

MGM’s bid seeks to convert the current Empire City racino into a comprehensive casino destination with expanded gaming floors, table games, and resort amenities.​

Bally’s Bronx (Ferry Point)

Location: Ferry Point, Bronx

Bally’s proposes transforming the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point into a casino complex, leveraging a waterfront setting near the Whitestone Bridge.​

Metropolitan Park (Hard Rock/Citi Field)

Location: Adjacent to Citi Field, Queens

Spearheaded by Mets owner Steve Cohen in partnership with Hard Rock, this $8 billion proposal would develop a casino and entertainment complex connected to the ballpark in the Willets Point area of Queens.​

These four projects advanced past local reviews and are now vying for up to three available licenses, with today’s deadline for final tax and application details submission.

Today’s Deadline and Process

The 4 p.m. deadline requires each bidder to submit their supplemental application materials, including their proposed tax rate, to the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board for final consideration.

The tax-rate proposal is a crucial part of the “blind bidding” process, where:

• Each applicant seeks to enhance both competitiveness and potential financial returns to the state.

By September 30, all finalists completed major entitlement steps, such as:

• Obtaining approvals from community advisory committees.

The Board will evaluate bids using the following benchmarks:

• Economic impact
• Local benefits
• Workforce development
• Diversity

The Board’s timeline includes:

• Recommendations expected by December 1.
• License awards planned for December 31, 2025.

Each licensee will:

• Owe a $500 million licensing fee.
• Be permitted to offer full-scale casino gaming, including table games and sportsbook operations.

This final round of bidding emphasizes:

• Not just who will operate the casinos, but also how much tax revenue each project will generate for the state.
• Making today’s submissions exceptionally significant for all parties involved.

As the deadline approaches, these comprehensive submissions will play a pivotal role in shaping New York’s gaming future. The decisions made by the Board will not only determine the next operators of the casinos but also set the stage for economic growth and community development throughout the region. All eyes are now on the final evaluations, with the anticipation building toward the announcement of winners by year’s end.