NYC Casino Race Intensifies as Brooklyn Meeting Stirs Controversy
An update has been issued regarding the progress of one of the casinos bidding for a New York casino license. A Brooklyn committee, the Coney Community Advisory Committee (CAC), has revealed that the group’s first public meeting has been moved to July 30.
CAC, which has been tasked with advising on the proposed casino project in Coney Island, will meet at Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach rather than in the community that will be affected.
The six-member committee, appointed by local and state officials, will vote to select a chair and schedule future meetings. It will also evaluate The Coney, a proposed casino development, to determine whether it has sufficient local support to proceed. Local leaders have criticised the change of meeting venue, saying the location hinders community participation.
State Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny voiced concern on social media, publishing an open letter to the Coney community arguing that the location imposes a burden on residents reliant on public transportation.
“I'm calling on the New York State Gaming Commission to consider relocating the meeting to a space in the Coney Island neighborhood to guarantee proper community feedback,” Brook-Kransey posted on X.
Currently, the meeting is still scheduled at Kingsborough Community College between 1-3 pm.
Bronx casino bid suffers defeat in city council vote
Meanwhile, casino operator Bally’s seems to have failed in its attempts to establish a new casino in the city. The New York City Council has voted 29-9 to reject the land-use changes required for the company’s proposed $4 billion Bronx casino project, which means the plan to redevelop the former Trump Links golf course in Throggs Neck is over.
Councilmember Kristy Marmorato, who represents the district, led the opposition.
Despite last-minute efforts by Bally’s and endorsements from some local Democratic leaders, Marmorato criticized the proposal for arriving too late and offering too little. In response, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Soo Kim, said the vote was incredibly disappointing and argued that the company had met all requested community benefit terms.
The state doesn't currently have a legal real-money online casino market.
Resorts World unveils record-breaking proposal
While the Bronx project collapses, Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) is pushing forward with a $5.5 billion plan to transform its existing Queens venue into a full-scale resort casino. The planned venue would become the largest of the eight bids submitted for one of three downstate casino licenses.
The envisaged development spans 5.6 million square feet and includes 6,000 slot machines, 800 table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat arena, and expansive green spaces. RWNYC emphasized that all necessary land-use approvals are in place, enabling immediate construction upon licensing, and that the facility could be operational by July 2026.
RWNYC President Robert DeSalvio cited the company’s $6.7 billion contribution to state education and racing industries since 2011, and the inclusion of a $50 million Innovation Campus and major philanthropic and housing commitments. The CAC is expected to vote on the proposal by September 30, with final licensing decisions due in December.
