Yonkers & Queens Casino Bids Clear Key Local Hurdles in New York Race

Two casino proposals in downstate New York, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers and Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, cleared critical votes on Thursday, becoming the first entrants to survive scrutiny by Community Advisory Committees (CACs) after all three Manhattan proposals were rejected by their local advisory panels.

The two CACs unanimously voted in favor of advancing the projects, sending them to the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board for further review in December. 

Once the board decides which bids will move forward, it’ll be up to the New York State Gaming Commission to make the final call on awarding up to three casino licenses. 

Unanimous CAC Support for Queens Expansion

In Queens, a six-member CAC delivered a 6–0 vote to advance Resorts World’s $5.5 billion expansion plan.

The Resorts World’s plan includes a 500,000-square-foot gaming floor, hundreds of table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, and more than 7,000 parking spaces. 

As Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who cast a yes vote, celebrated the victory, he took a friendly jab at one of the city’s most famous residents, saying, “Here’s a theme in Queens, and I know that Nas was a part of this: Queens get the money. Sorry, Jay-Z, we win again,” referencing the failed Times Square bid backed by the rapper. 

Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the large number of residents, partners, and supporters who touted this project, without a single person speaking against it. This is a testament to our mission – solidified over the last 15 years – to be the best neighbor possible here in Queens.”

Yonkers Project Also Backed Unanimously

A separate CAC in Yonkers gave the green light for the MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino expansion bid in a 5-0 vote. 

Empire City’s proposal calls for a $2.3 billion redevelopment of the existing racino, which currently offers harness racing and electronic gaming, into a full-scale casino with expanded dining options, a 5,000-capacity entertainment venue, and a BetMGM Sportsbook.
Frank Jereis,  a committee member and Yonkers Democratic Party executive director, had this to say about the proposal: “It will undoubtedly be a successful project and casino for years to come, not only for Yonkers, but for the entire region.”

James Cavanaugh warned that if Empire City is passed over, the facility in its current state would struggle to compete with new projects in the greater NYC area, saying: “Who is going to continue going to an aging slot parlor?”

What Comes Next & What’s at Stake

With local committees giving their nod of approval, both bids proceed to the next stage: a December vote by the Gaming Facility Location Board, followed by evaluation from the New York Gaming Commission.

In contrast, all three Manhattan casino proposals failed to secure CAC approval, with 4–2 votes against each bid, leaving the borough out of contention in this licensing round.

Three other development bids are still awaiting CAC decisions: Bally’s Bronx (near Whitestone Bridge), The Coney in Brooklyn, and Metropolitan (Citi Field, Queens).

The remaining proposals are likely to pass their CACs less easily than the Yonkers and Queens bids, if at all. While bids in the Bronx and at Citi Field may win approval, the Coney Island project has acknowledged that community opposition could derail it. 

Andrew Sokolof Díaz, president of a tenants association near the Metropolitan site, described the proposal as “one of the most egregious, like thefts, that’s being sanctioned by all of our elected officials,” adding: “I’m completely, completely opposed to any idea of a casino, let alone in this part of Queens, but in any working-class community.”