New York Downstate Casino Locations Whittle to Six

It was recently announced that the Community Advisory Committee rejected the Times Square casino proposal, while the Hudson Yards Community Advisory Committee also voted against the Avenir casino project on Manhattan’s West Side by an identical 4-2 vote.

There are now six projects remaining for three coveted licenses.

Times Up on Times Square Casino

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation partnered with developer SL Green and Caesars Entertainment to bring a casino to the heart of Times Square at 1515 Broadway. However, there was considerable backlash to the project, and several community groups, including the No Times Square Casino Coalition, were vocal in their objection to the project.

Last week, the area’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) voted 4-2 against the project, meaning it is no longer a viable candidate to win one of the three downstate licenses. Recently, Jay-Z verbalized his support for the game-changing casino resort, stating the following:

“Our vision is to build a destination that not only attracts visitors but also gives New Yorkers a place they’re proud to enjoy,” he stated. “A casino here doesn’t compete with Times Square—it complements it. We’re creating a hub that draws even more people into the neighborhood, generating new energy, new business, and new opportunities for everyone.”

From Outrage to Optimism

SL Green CEO Marc Holliday could not conceal his disappointment and vented to the Committee after the vote, “What you did here today was despicable, a display of cowardice.”

However, a Caesars spokesperson was much more restrained, releasing a statement that read, “While we are disappointed by the outcome, our commitment to New York remains unwavering. We are proud of our strong partnerships across the state, anchored by our Caesars Sportsbook platform, where we continue to invest and innovate to serve New Yorkers. New York is a dynamic part of our national footprint, and we look forward to exploring future opportunities.”

The “Future” Is No More

Another competing project, the Avenir, French for “future,” also received disappointing news as the CAC on Manhattan’s West Side also voted 4-2 to reject the proposal.

Dino Fusco, COO of Silverstein Properties, was naturally disappointed in the outcome, which will take the Avenir out of contention as well.

The local Community Advisory Committee vote is critical, as the New York State Gaming Commission will not issue a license without local support. Now the contending projects have been whittled from what was originally a dozen down to six.

Insiders believe Mets’ owner, Steve Cohen, and partner Hard Rock International’s Metropolitan Park have the best chance of getting one of the coveted licenses. It is a project in which over $8 billion will be invested in the Queen’s neighborhood, located very near Citi Field, the home of the Mets.

However, all bets are off until the Metropolitan Park CAC votes on it within the next two weeks.

The two existing downstate “racinos” that feature live horse racing, Resorts World Casino in Queens and the MGM Empire City in Yonkers, are equipped with the infrastructure to hit the ground running, which makes them feasible locations for the other two downstate casino licenses.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on this and other major industry developments, including the top-rated sportsbooks.