In New York, the gaming chair emphasizes that adherence to compliance records will be crucial in determining which candidates are deemed "worthy" and awarded casino licenses.
The downstate casino licensing process in New York State is currently in a critical phase, with eight bids officially submitted by the June 27, 2025 deadline. These bids are competing for up to three available licenses.
The selection process is now focused on community reviews and public hearings conducted by local Community Advisory Committees (CACs). Each CAC vote requires a two-thirds supermajority for a casino project to advance and be eligible for final consideration by the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) and the New York State Gaming Commission.
The role of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is crucial as it provides local community review and public input through hearings. CACs vote on the proposed projects and effectively hold a veto power since a two-thirds majority approval is needed for the projects to move forward.
The key evaluation criteria for the proposals include community support and input, economic benefits, public safety and security plans, environmental and zoning approvals, and the overall capacity of the casino proposals to bring maximum benefit to both the state and local residents.
The eight final bidders and their proposed sites are:
- The Avenir (Manhattan, West Side near Javits Center)
- Ballyβs New York Casino (The Bronx)
- Caesars Palace Times Square (Manhattan)
- Freedom Plaza (Manhattan)
- Metropolitan Park (Queens, partnership with Hard Rock and NY Mets)
- MGM Empire City (Yonkers)
- Resorts World New York City (Queens, existing Aqueduct racino)
- The Coney (Brooklyn)
Some reports suggest a growing momentum for proposals such as the Hard Rock Queens site and MGM Empire City Casino in Yonkers, with speculation that those two could be frontrunners alongside a third license recipient. However, final decisions depend heavily on community endorsement and regulatory reviews.
It's important to note that the downstate casino licensing process is not guaranteed to award the maximum number of licenses specified by law. The final number could be less if there aren't enough suitable candidates. The process is flexible and can adjust the number of licenses based on the quality of applicants.
The downstate casino licensing process is being overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), with Brian O'Dwyer serving as the Chairman. The process is being discussed at the Racing and Gaming Conference in Saratoga.
The CAC stage is a crucial step in the downstate casino licensing process to prevent a casino from being imposed on an unwilling community. The final number of casino licenses to be awarded is subject to the availability of suitable candidates.
[1] New York's Downstate Casino Licensing Process
[2] Eight Final Bids Submitted for New York Downstate Casinos
[3] New York Downstate Casinos: Who are the Finalists?
[4] New York Downstate Casino Licensing Process: What You Need to Know
[5] New York Downstate Casino Licensing Process: A Comprehensive Guide
- Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are conducting public hearings to evaluate the casino-and-gambling projects submitted by eight bidders, with each CAC vote requiring a two-thirds supermajority for a casino proposal to move forward in the casino-games selection process.
- Key evaluation criteria for the proposed downstate casinos include community support and input, casino-games offerings, economic benefits, public safety and security plans, environmental and zoning approvals, and overall capacity to bring maximum benefit to both the state and local residents.
