New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board is to meet today, on December 1, 2025, to decide whether to award any of the three proposals the coveted gaming licenses.The...
Bally’s, Genting and Steve Cohen licenses approved in New York
The New York Gaming Facility Location Board announced on December 1, 2025, the results of granting licenses to the three casino proposals, voting unanimously to grant all three.
The board has sent the recommendations to the Gaming Commission for final sign-off on December 31, 2025.
Each company will be paying a $500 million up-front licensing tax, as all three are expected to generate billions in revenue and create thousands of jobs for the community.
Bally’s project includes building an integrated destination at the golf course at Ferry Point, which would be the company’s first full-scale casino in New York. The project is expected to create an infrastructure program in New York’s least successful boroughs. However, critics are concerned that the casino can have some environmental implications on the waterfront area.
The second project is the transformation of Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack into a full casino. Genting Group, which has already been the operator of the site for many years, believes it can quickly expand the entertainment space and, at the same time, keep existing racing operations running.
The last Metropolitan Park project is a collaboration between Steve Cohen and Hard Rock and will be situated near Citi Field in Queens. Supporters believe the project will transform the waterfront and generate all-year economic activity.
The development of these new venues is a change in the casino market and also in the competitive map. However, regulators still stress that strong oversight on responsible-gambling obligations, as well as labor and diversity commitments, will be implemented.
The Star Entertainment Group is preparing to welcome Bally’s takeover, as it will become the majority stakeholder in the company, with the deal set to be finalized by the end...
