New York's Downstate Casino Expansion Nears Final Decision on Four Major Bids
New York State is moving forward with plans to expand casino gambling in the downstate region. After lifting a long-standing moratorium last year, officials are now reviewing four major proposals for new casinos in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County. The selected projects could bring significant economic investment but will face strict licensing terms and oversight.
The push for downstate casinos began in 2013 when voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing new gambling venues upstate. At the time, a moratorium blocked similar projects in the New York City area. That restriction ended in 2023, clearing the way for up to three new casinos in the region.
The state's Gaming Facility Location Board is now evaluating four final bids: MGM Empire City in Yonkers, Bally's Bronx, Resorts World New York City, and Metropolitan Park. Each proposal will be scored on economic impact (70%), diversity hiring (10%), and other factors (20%). Economic criteria include job creation, capital investment, revenue potential, and how quickly projects can launch.
Diversity hiring is a key requirement, with a focus on employing women, minorities, and disabled veterans—particularly in areas with large minority populations. Successful applicants must also demonstrate strong safeguards against money laundering.
The licensing fee for each casino is set at $500 million. Operators will pay a minimum tax of 25% on slot machine revenue and 10% on other gambling income. While the state initially awarded three of four upstate licenses in 2014 (adding a fourth in 2016), officials have not ruled out approving fewer than the maximum three downstate casinos this time.
Three of the four current proposals have been in development for years. Resorts World New York City, first announced in 2011, submitted a major expansion plan in 2014. Genting's Queens casino was publicly proposed in 2013, while the Nassau Coliseum site on Long Island emerged in 2017.
The board has not yet chosen any winners, and the final decision will depend on how well each proposal meets the state's financial, social, and regulatory demands. If approved, the new casinos would mark the first major expansion of gambling in the New York City area in over a decade.
