{"id":72267,"date":"2025-12-16T15:18:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/72267\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T15:18:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:18:08","slug":"new-york-gaming-commission-approves-three-downstate-casino-licenses-for-queens-and-the-bronx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/72267\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Gaming Commission approves three downstate casino licenses for Queens and the Bronx"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York State Gaming Commission<\/a> on Monday formally approved three downstate casino licenses, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for major gaming and entertainment developments in Queens and the Bronx after a process that stretched over several years.<\/p>\n

The Commission\u2019s Dec. 15 vote authorized licenses for Metropolitan Park<\/a> near Citi Field and Resorts World New York City<\/a> in South Ozone Park, both in Queens, along with Bally\u2019s proposed casino in the Bronx<\/a>. The decision followed a unanimous recommendation earlier this month by the state\u2019s Gaming Facility Location Board and marked the conclusion of a lengthy review process that included project revisions, community advisory committee votes, and multiple layers of government approval.<\/p>\n

Under the decision, Resorts World<\/a> and Bally\u2019s<\/a> were each awarded 15-year licenses, while Metropolitan Park received a 20-year license based on its overall financial commitment. Speaking at the Robert F. Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Riverside State Park, Gaming Commission Chair Brian O\u2019Dwyer said the three projects would generate thousands of \u201cgood, union jobs\u201d in Queens and the Bronx.<\/p>\n

The approvals, however, are conditional. O\u2019Dwyer said each developer must enter into an agreement with an independent third-party monitor, approved by the Commission, to ensure compliance with state requirements and delivery on community benefit commitments over the next five years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will hear from you regularly,\u201d O\u2019Dwyer said. \u201cWe will ask the monitor to report on a quarterly basis to us as to how you have complied with the many wonderful promises that you have made to our communities over the next five years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Commission also warned that failure to meet those commitments could result in license revocation, even after construction begins, and said hiring of minority- and women-owned businesses would be closely tracked.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mets owner Steve Cohen<\/p>\n

Project backers welcomed the decision. Mets owner Steve Cohen, who partnered with Hard Rock International<\/a> on Metropolitan Park, said\u00a0the project would transform the area surrounding Citi Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the day I bought the team, the community and Mets fans have made it clear to me that we can and should do better with the area around the ballpark,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cNow, we are going to be able to deliver the sports and entertainment district that our fans have been asking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen said the Commission\u2019s approval confirmed the project\u2019s broader impact. \u201cThe Commission\u2019s decision confirms the positive impact this project will have on New York City, the state, and the region, and we\u2019re excited to build on our long record of delivering world-class entertainment experiences here in Queens,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n

Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio, whose company oversees Resorts World New York City, said the casino expects to begin full operations in early 2026. \u201cWe look forward to opening within months as New York City\u2019s first full commercial casino,\u201d DeSalvio said.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio<\/p>\n

The decision was welcomed by several elected officials, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who described it as the \u201cdawn of a more financially secure future\u201d for the borough.\u00a0Council Member Francisco Moya, whose district includes the Metropolitan Park site, called it a \u201cmajor win\u201d for Queens.<\/p>\n

The meeting was briefly disrupted by protesters opposed to casino development, and advocacy group Flushing Workers Center criticized the decision, calling for Gov. Kathy Hochul to resign.<\/p>\n

Hochul defended the outcome, calling it the result of a multi-year \u201ccommunity-driven process\u201d that emphasized local support and enforceable community benefits. \u201cEach of the projects made significant commitments to their communities and to New York State,\u201d Hochul said, adding that accountability would be enforced.<\/p>\n

State officials estimate the three casinos will generate roughly $7 billion in gaming tax revenue between 2027 and 2036, along with $5.9 billion in additional taxes. Each developer will also pay a $500 million license fee, with most tax revenue split between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the State Department of Education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York State Gaming Commission on Monday formally approved three downstate casino licenses, clearing the final regulatory…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":72268,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[128,9,24,63,129,131,130],"class_list":["post-72267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-bronx","tag-bronx","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-the-bronx","tag-the-bronx-headlines","tag-the-bronx-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}