Gamblers and other stakeholders have been holding their breath to see which bids will win one of the available casino licenses for downstate, but a new note from New York Gaming Commission (NYGC) proves they might have to hang on a bit longer…
How many casino licenses are available?
There are three downstate casino licenses up for grabs.
How many contenders are in the running for a downstate casino license?
As of now, there are around 11 interested applicants trying to get their hands on one of the three downstate casino licenses.
Where are possible locations for an NYC Casino?
Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty Corporation are hoping to secure a license for a casino in Times Square. Whereas, Saratoga Casino Holdings, The Chickasaw Nation, and Legends are gunning for a Coney Island casino.
Are there any front-runners?
It seems MGM Resorts International’s Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Genting Group’s Resorts World New York City in Queens are still favorites.
When will the selection process begin?
Before any decisions are made, NYC zoning laws need to be adjusted in order to permit one of the selected locations to be in one of the five boroughs. Originally, a 30-day bidding window was hoped to open before July 2024, but necessary zoning efforts have delayed such a timeline.
Even Mayor Eric Adams’ proposed zoning amendment has 10 more steps to carry out before it could go into effect, reports casino.org. Therefore, experts don’t expect a decision until sometime next year in 2025.