NEW YORK (PIX11) — Just three players remain in the bid to win a casino license in New York City — two in Queens and one in the Bronx — after one contender in Westchester County abruptly dropped out Tuesday.
MGM Resorts announced it is no longer pursuing a plan to build a multibillion-dollar casino in Yonkers, a move that left Mayor Michael Spano stunned.
“Something smells, and they need to follow the money to see what happened,” Spano said.
There had been four locations in and around New York City vying for a full-scale casino license, but up to three licenses will soon be awarded. Spano believes politics may be behind MGM’s withdrawal.
“[President Trump] stands to make $115 million should Bally’s get this license,” Spano said. “I want the governor to look at the process.”
President Donald Trump owns the Ferry Point property in the Bronx, run by Bally’s. The 222-acre golf course would have competed directly with MGM’s Yonkers location.
In a statement, MGM said it believed the process was stacked against it:
“Our proposal to renovate and expand Empire City Casino was predicated on the receipt of a 30-year commercial casino license, but based on newly issued guidance from the State of New York we now expect to qualify for only a 15-year license.”
Spano said the city will lose out on significant community benefits from the failed project.
“There’s a residual benefit for the community that we will miss out on,” he said.
The state Gaming Commission is expected to announce its final decision on who will be awarded the casino licenses in December, with Hard Rock, Bally’s, and Resorts World still in the running.
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