Survey Shows Broad NYC Skepticism of Casino Expansion

A new survey of 1,374 New York City residents shows strong opposition to plans for three Las Vegas-style casinos in the city. The majority of those polled believe the developments will bring more harm than good, with concerns ranging from gambling addiction to the influence of former President Trump.

The survey found that 57% disagree with the decision to build the casinos. Another 55% feel the projects are simply 'something NYC shouldn’t be doing at all'. Among the biggest worries, 61% highlighted gambling addiction as a major issue, while 60% argued that the social costs would outweigh any economic gains.

Opinions varied across boroughs. The Bronx showed the highest opposition, with 71% against the plans, while Staten Island had the most support at 40%. Queens, however, stood out as the most supportive location, with Resorts World New York City securing approvals from the Gaming Facility Location Board, the Community Advisory Committee, and land use authorities. A citywide campaign has also backed the Queens project. Scepticism extended to the casinos’ potential success. A significant 65% doubted they could compete with Las Vegas. Additionally, 80% found it inappropriate for Donald Trump to profit from a casino deal linked to his former golf course. The survey included a diverse group of respondents, with an average age of 38.9. Of those polled, 53.7% identified as female, 45.3% as male, 0.5% as non-binary, and 0.5% as transgender.

The findings reveal broad resistance to casino expansion in NYC, particularly in the Bronx. While job creation was seen as a potential benefit by 62% of respondents, concerns about addiction, social impact, and Trump’s involvement dominated the debate. The Mets organisation also faced criticism, with 86% urging it to focus on baseball rather than casino development.