Content Writer: Janice Chew • Friday, 25/10/2025 - 16:04:52 - PM
The contest for downstate New York’s commercial casino licenses has shrunk to just three bidders: Resorts World New York City, Bally’s Corporation, and the joint Steve Cohen / Hard Rock International proposal. This follows the surprising exit of MGM Resorts, which withdrew its bid for a full casino at its Empire City Casino in Yonkers.
MGM cited shifts in competitive dynamics and weakened financial assumptions—most notably, the change of the license term from 30 years to 15 years—as key reasons for pulling out. With MGM gone, the remaining three must now sharpen their pitches. Resorts World is proposing a US$5.5 billion redevelopment in Queens, backed by a $600 million license fee and ambitious tax offers. Cohen/Hard Rock are pushing an $8 billion “Metropolitan Park” plan next to Citi Field, while Bally’s is backing a $4 billion casino resort in the Bronx.
Observers warn that New York’s drawn-out licensing process—coupled with local opposition, regulatory risk, and evolving economic calculus—is exerting pressure on would-be operators. The State’s Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to recommend winners by December, in what could be a defining moment for casino expansion in the NYC area.