The landscape of downstate New York is set for a potential transformation with the announcement of three new casino facilities. The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board has marked June 27, 2025, as the new bid deadline for these ventures, aiming to reshape the entertainment and economic landscape in some of the state's most iconic areas.
Legislation and Deadlines
A bill awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature proposes an earlier deadline of August 31, 2024, for submission of bids, significantly earlier than the board's set date. Authored by Senator Joe Addabbo, the bill, known as S9673A, has already cleared both the house and senate as early as June. If this legislation is enacted, it would override the board’s deadline, mandating all proposals be submitted by the end of summer 2024. This earlier timeline has stirred concerns among board members who view it as ambitious given the prerequisites involved.
Challenges and Concerns
The board has voiced its apprehensions regarding meeting such an accelerated schedule. “Politicians may want a quicker deadline, but that would be impractical,” remarked Vicki Been. The crucial point in the board's argument is the necessity for all ‘entitlements and zoning’ to be approved before any bid can be reviewed. This involves comprehensive environmental impact studies and zoning changes, which are typically time-intensive processes.
Current proposals like Bally’s Bronx facility and Steve Cohen’s Queens proposition face the intricate challenge of rezoning their parkland designations for casino development, further complicating an expedited timeline. “Because bids cannot be reviewed until all ‘entitlements and zoning’ are approved, the board views the current deadline as unreasonable,” resonated the board's collective sentiment.
A Competitive Field
The competition for these casino bids is fierce, with 11 bidders vying for prime locations from Times Square to Brooklyn. Notable proposals include:
- Avenir: Silverstein Properties and Greenwood Gaming in Manhattan
- Bally’s Links at Ferry Point: Bally’s Corporation in The Bronx
- Caesars Palace Times Square: Caesars Entertainment, SL Green, and Roc Nation in Manhattan
- Coney Project: Thor Equities, Legends Entertainment, the Chickasaw Nation, Saratoga Casino Holdings in Brooklyn
- Freedom Plaza: Soloviev Group and Mohegan Gaming in Manhattan
- Metropolitan Park: Steven Cohen and Hard Rock International in Queens
- MGM Empire City: MGM Resorts International in Yonkers
- Resorts World New York City: Genting Group in Queens
- Sands New York: Las Vegas Sands in Nassau County, Long Island
- Saks Fifth Avenue: Hudson’s Bay Company, operator to be determined, in Manhattan
- Wynn New York City: Related Companies, Oxford Properties Group, and Wynn Resorts in Manhattan
Several proposals extend beyond traditional casino facilities, incorporating resorts, housing units, and neighborhood improvements, blending commercial and tribal operators to create robust development plans.
Foreseeing the Future
The board's optimism persists in spite of the challenges posed by the earlier deadline in the bill. They remain committed to issuing licenses by the end of 2025, believing that their deliberation underscores the impractical nature of an expedited schedule. “The hope would be that our reasoning will be helpful to the governor,” added Been, underlining that thoughtful consideration of the board’s arguments could influence the final decision.
The outcomes of these deliberations are poised to significantly alter downstate New York's landscape. With high stakes and large-scale developments on the horizon, these casino proposals promise to bring substantial changes, possibly redefining the state's gaming, entertainment, and economic fortunes.