The New York State Gaming Commission is scheduled to meet today at the Robert F. Smith Center for the Performing Arts at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park to finalize approval of three full-scale casino proposals for New York City. According to AMNY, the public meeting, which will also be available via livestream, concludes a multi-year competitive bidding process in which several developers and gaming companies submitted proposals for the downstate casino licenses.
ABC7NY reports that the three casinos anticipated to be greenlit include Bally’s proposed site in the Bronx, Hard Rock’s project adjacent to Citi Field, and Resort World’s planned expansion at the Aqueduct Racetrack near JFK Airport, which Governor Kathy Hochul has highlighted as a boon for job creation and a financial windfall for the MTA, notwithstanding the protestors that have been a frequent sight at the meetings this year. The Bronx site, once a golf course owned by President Donald Trump, Bally’s aims to transform it into a hub that would reportedly generate near $400 million in annual tax revenue and support approximately 4,000 permanent jobs while paying $115 million to the Trump Organization for its remaining interest in the land.
The casino projects are expected to act as major economic drivers, with the gaming board projecting an estimated $7 billion in gaming tax revenue over a decade starting in 2027, along with an additional $5.9 billion in taxes benefiting public schools and transportation. "We entered this process with a tabula rasa, and are concluding with three impressive projects that will transform communities, establish career opportunities for residents, and drive much-needed revenue to the MTA, public schools and the city," the commission stated after its earlier December vote, as detailed in the AMNY coverage.
Despite public interest, today’s session will not include public commentary and will prohibit signs, multimedia visual aids, posters, placards, and banners, amid concerns that protest activity may reappear. Those wishing to watch can find broadcast details on the commission’s official website, as reported by ABC7NY. The meeting represents the final step in the approval process, effectively allowing Hard Rock International, in partnership with Mets owner Steve Cohen, and Resorts World Casino to move forward with plans projected to generate over $1 billion each in annual tax revenue and collectively create more than 11,000 permanent jobs.
