Casino expansion in New York City now possible after regulators unanimously approve three major projects

Casino expansion in New York City is now possible after regulators unanimously approved three license applications on December 15, 2025. The New York State Gaming Commission granted final approval to Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World, clearing a major hurdle for Las Vegas-style gambling to come to the five boroughs.

Three Casinos Clear Final Regulatory Approval

The New York State Gaming Commission voted unanimously to approve all three remaining casino applicants after years of intense scrutiny and local community review. Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer announced the decision with a clear message to operators: fulfill every promise or lose the license.

“They’re gonna do those things, or they won’t have a license,” O’Dwyer stated after the vote. The commission emphasized that oversight wouldn’t be casual, warning operators they should “be assured that this commission takes our responsibility in keeping your feet to the fire with great respect.”

What’s Being Built in Each Borough

Casino Project	Location	Expected Opening
Resorts World	Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens	March 2026
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park	Near Citi Field, Queens	End of 2029
Bally’s Bronx	Ferry Point Park, Bronx	End of 2029

Bally’s Bronx will develop a 3-million-square-foot resort featuring a 500,000-square-foot casino, 500-room hotel, and 2,000-person event center. The project promises $10 million annually in community benefits to neighborhood schools and organizations.

Hard Rock Metropolitan Park will transform 50 acres of parking lots in front of Citi Field into a mixed-use complex with 286,208 square feet of gaming space, 5,650-seat entertainment venue, and 25 acres of public green space. The Mets owner Steve Cohen-backed project establishes a $163 million community impact trust for local non-profit grants.

Independent Monitors Will Ensure Compliance

Each casino will operate under an independent third-party monitor for at least five years to enforce community-benefit promises worth hundreds of millions of dollars. These promised benefits include transit infrastructure upgrades, affordable housing development, and green space creation.

Monitors will report to the Gaming Commission quarterly and may recommend license revocation if operators fail to deliver promised commitments. O’Dwyer emphasized the commission’s willingness to revoke licenses for non-compliance with “every single thing they have promised.”

The Gaming Facility Location Board raised some concerns about promise clarity during its December 1 selection, particularly against Resorts World, which the board noted had offered “vague benefits that are extremely conjectural.” The commission will work with operators to establish specific timelines and accountability measures.

New York State Anticipates Billions in Gaming Revenue

New York projects $1 billion annually in gaming tax revenue from the three casinos by 2036, with $7 billion in incremental tax revenue expected between 2027 and 2036. The state will also collect $1.5 billion from licensing fees total.

Roughly half of gaming revenue will fund public school education aid across New York State, while the remaining revenue supports the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This funding structure makes casinos a significant economic development tool for the entire state.

The licensing process has been lengthy. New York voters approved casino licensing in 2013, but a 10-year moratorium on downstate licenses delayed development until upstate casinos could establish themselves. The state only issued formal requests for downstate proposals in early 2023.

Will NYC Casino Expansion Lead to Similar Projects Elsewhere?

These three approvals represent a historic milestone for New York City, which previously had no full-scale casinos. The success could reshape gaming policy across the nation, as other major cities evaluate their own expansion strategies.

Casino opponents have voiced concerns about gambling addiction, revenue leakage from other businesses, and community impacts. Protesters disrupted the Gaming Commission vote, with one lifelong Corona resident arguing the casinos exploit vulnerable communities rather than serving them.

“If they really wanted to invest in my community they would put something that wouldn’t turn us all into addicts,” one protester stated at the commission vote.

— Graciela Quispe, 27-year-old Corona resident

Sources

• THE CITY – Comprehensive reporting on the Gaming Commission vote and community impact
• NY1 – Official Gaming Commission approval announcement and license details
• CBS New York – Timeline updates and project specifications