After years of negotiation, the battle for casino licenses in downtown New York State has finally settled. The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) unanimously passed this Monday, awarding commercial casino licenses to the three finalists—Bally's Bronx, Resorts World NYC, and Metropolitan Park. This not only means that a license fee of up to $500 million is about to be secured, but also heralds the rise of three giant integrated resorts with a total investment of over $17 billion, completely changing New York's entertainment landscape.
"Community benefits" become a hard criterion, all three parties must sign a five-year supervision agreement
The licenses issued this time come with a key condition: the licensees must sign agreements with independent third-party institutions to supervise and enforce the massive community benefits they promised during the application process. These agreements are valid for at least five years, and the licensees must report progress quarterly to the regulatory authorities. This provision directly responds to the previous recommendations of the Site Selection Committee (GFLB) and meets the strong calls of various community advisory committees, aiming to ensure that huge investments truly benefit local residents, rather than being empty promises. From the initial 11 competitors, these three winners have truly passed through rigorous challenges, with four voluntarily withdrawing and four being eliminated during the community consultation phase.
The three strong contenders: the pioneer, the financial giant, and the dark horse's ultimate blueprint
Resorts World NYC (Queens): As the party upgrading the existing video lottery terminal facilities, it has become the recognized leader with "the fastest market entry" and "the highest tax rate commitment" (slots 56%, table games 30%). Its parent company, Genting Group, plans to invest $5.5 billion in expansion and ambitiously aims to open the first phase earlier than planned, from July to March next year. If on schedule, it will enjoy the "pioneer's bonus" of being the only full commercial casino in New York City for at least the next three to four years.
Metropolitan Park (Queens): This $8 billion project, created by Hard Rock International and Mets owner, billionaire Steve Cohen, is seen as the most financially robust choice. The plan is to transform a large parking lot next to Citi Field into a year-round entertainment destination. Despite political hurdles such as opposition from district councilors and last-minute lawsuits from the Tennis Association, deep political connections and strong capital ultimately cleared the way for it.
Bally's Bronx (Bronx): This might be the biggest "dark horse" in this bidding. Bally's plans to build a $4 billion integrated resort on its golf course. The project received strong support from former New York City Mayor Eric Adams and made outstanding commitments in local employment and minority business cooperation, scoring high in community benefit assessments. If fully completed, this will be the largest private investment project in the history of the Bronx.
Industry Impact: The era of New York casinos officially begins
With the licenses officially issued, New York's casino industry moves from blueprint to action. Resorts World's rapid opening will first test market enthusiasm; Metropolitan Park and Bally's Bronx are aiming for the distant future of 2030. This competition involves not only billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of jobs but will also reshape the gambling and entertainment landscape of the East Coast of the United States. For more in-depth analysis of the global gaming industry, please follow PASA's official website.
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