The New York Gaming Facility Location Board has officially recommended commercial casino licensure for the final three bids remaining in the process, opening the door for new properties from Bally's Corporation, Hard Rock International and Resorts World New York City.
Resorts World New York City, operated by the Genting Group, stated it plans to have "hundreds" of table games available to players by March 2026, following final approval from the New York State Gaming Commission later in December.
"Resorts World New York City's journey to this historic moment represents more than 15 years of work to generate jobs, revenue and opportunities for our neighbors," Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio said.
"Resorts World New York City's $7.5bn proposal is the only bid that can expand operations in just 90 days, generating billions in new revenue for mass transit and public education over the next four years. We are thankful the Gaming Facility Location Board recognized the tremendous economic impact we will have for New York State."
The property will include 500,000 sq ft of gaming space with 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, as well as a 7,000-seat multipurpose entertainment venue.
The bid from Hard Rock International was formed in partnership with New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen, who plans to construct the property near the MLB franchise's Citi Field ballpark.
"The New York Building Congress congratulates Bally's Bronx, Queens Future - Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Resorts World New York City on being recommended for approval by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board," New York Building Congress President and CEO Carlo Scissura said.
"These casino developments represent major, once-in-a-generation investments in New York's future, creating thousands of good-paying, union jobs, generating billions in economic activity and delivering new revenue streams that will support essential public services across our city and state."
Bally's will open a new location in the Bronx, but each proposal has been met with pushback from local organizations and community members.
Once the New York Gaming Facility Location Board granted license recommendation for the three operators, those in attendance of the public meeting immediately began chanting "Shame on you! Shame on you!" at members of the Board.
Operators such as Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Mohegan and MGM Resorts International were also part of the bidding process, but respectfully pulled out of the competition at various points in 2025.
"New York is transformational. It's obviously been a process that a lot of folks were very interested in. When we started, there were 11 bids or competitors that were announced, and over time, they dwindled down and got eliminated or withdrew for whatever reason," Bally's SVP of Corporate Development Chris Jewett said as part of an exclusive interview with Global Gaming Insider.
"I think it would be transformational for the company, just in terms of the size and scale of the opportunity itself. We're extremely excited about that."
Scissura went on to state the New York Gaming Facility Location Board's decision represents a "milestone" over a decade in the making, as each proposal "demonstrated a strong commitment" to investing in its surrounding communities and driving long-term economic impact.
The New York State Gaming Commission released its September 2025 results on October 15, as gross gaming revenue from casino properties was $57.6m, equating to a rise of 3.1%
