The Resorts World New York City Casino and Hyatt Regency Hotel in Queens.
Courtesy of Perkins Eastman
The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board unanimously voted in favor of all three remaining casino bids, representing a major victory for the Bally’s casino proposal in the Bronx and the Metropolitan Park and Resorts World developments in Queens.
The vote represents the second-to-last step in a years-long process to award three downstate gaming licenses to projects in the New York metropolitan area, with the Gaming Commission set to deliver a verdict by the end of the month.
Delivering the verdict at the CUNY Graduate Center Monday morning, board chair Vicki Been said the board had determined that advancing all three projects “best advances the state’s long-term economic, fiscal and community objectives.”
Spokespeople for Resorts World New York City, Metropolitan Park and Bally’s were all jubilant in reacting to Monday’s board vote.
“Resorts World New York City’s journey to this historic moment represents more than 15 years of work to generate jobs, revenue, and opportunities for our neighbors,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East. “Resorts World New York City’s $7.5 billion proposal is the only bid that can expand operations in just 90 days, generating billions in new revenue for mass transit and public education over the next four years.”
Karl Rickett, spokesperson for Metropolitan Park — the joint casino bid led by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International – said the Dec. 1 vote represented the project moving “one step closer to becoming a reality.”
“Following a fair, transparent and rigorous process, the Gaming Facility Location Board has validated the positive economic impact this project will have with billions of dollars in tax revenue, 23,000 union jobs, and over $1 billion in community benefits,” Rickett said. “We look forward to the Gaming Commission’s review.”
The three proposals were the last remaining bids in the race to obtain a downstate license, with Community Advisory Committees voting down three proposals in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. MGM Empire City, an existing “racino” in Yonkers, later withdrew its applications.
However, some doubts had remained whether the Gaming Facility Location Board would award all three licenses ahead of Monday’s vote or vote against certain proposals.
This is a developing story; check with amNY.com for further updates.