Queens at Center of NYC Casino Expansion Push
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
New York’s long-running push to bring full-scale casinos to the five boroughs cleared a major hurdle on December 1 after the state Gaming Facility Location Board officially approved all three downstate proposals. The selections advance Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct, and Bally’s Bronx at Ferry Point to the final stage of the licensing process. The Gaming Commission is expected to give its final sign-off by Dec. 31.
Officials said the three bids “best advance the state’s long-term economic, fiscal, and community objectives,” positioning New York City for Las Vegas-style table games, hotel towers, and large entertainment venues. The board projected close to $7 billion in gambling tax revenue between 2027 and 2036, on top of $1.5 billion in licensing fees and nearly $6 billion in additional state and local taxes. Resorts World could begin generating revenue as soon as this spring if the commission approves the license, while the other two casinos anticipate opening by 2030.
“From the moment that three downstate casino licenses were authorized in the 2022 State Budget, I have been clear: any approved project must provide real benefits to its community and have sustainable economic plans,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “I am grateful to Chair Been and the Gaming Facility Location Board for their careful review of the applications according to these high standards. The three projects approved today promise to unlock billions in funding for the MTA and create tens of thousands of jobs. It is critical that they keep those promises. I look forward to the Gaming Commission’s review of the Board’s recommendations in the weeks ahead.”
Resorts World New York City, already the state’s highest-grossing gaming site, is slated for a sweeping $5 billion expansion. Since opening in 2011 as the city’s first legal casino, the property has grown into a major economic engine for Queens. Its proposed expansion includes a 350,000-square-foot casino floor, a 1,600-room Crockfords hotel, a 7,000-seat arena, new dining and retail corridors, and more than 10 acres of public green space. The plan also calls for a $50 million Genting Innovation Center and 3,000 units of affordable, union-built housing. Resorts World has framed the project as a long-delayed next chapter that would enhance tourism, support local businesses, and strengthen its community partnerships.
“Queens is on the move. Today’s selections by the New York State Gaming Commission represent an historic moment for our borough and for New York State. By awarding licenses to both Metropolitan Park and Resorts World New York City, the Commission has embraced a vision for Queens as a global destination for culture, sports, and entertainment,” President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Tom Grech said.
In Flushing, the Metropolitan Park proposal represents an even larger investment. Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International are seeking to build an $8 billion casino resort and entertainment district beside Citi Field. The project became viable only after Albany approved legislation allowing state parkland around the stadium to be developed. The plan includes a hotel, performance venues, new public spaces, and the Flushing Skypark, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge meant to connect Willets Point with downtown Flushing. Supporters say the Skypark would provide new recreation areas and help close infrastructure gaps in one of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.
Despite those promises, the Metropolitan Park proposal has fueled some of the strongest community opposition seen in the casino process. Residents and advocacy groups say a casino would worsen housing pressures, increase traffic congestion, and divert public land away from immigrant and working-class communities. Nearly a thousand Queens residents rallied in Flushing on Nov. 16, urging State Sen. John Liu to withdraw his support for the authorizing legislation. Many said they first learned of the proposal only months earlier and criticized what they described as a public outreach process that excluded the neighborhoods most affected.
The Flushing Workers Center condemned the state board’s decision to advance the Metropolitan Park casino, calling it an attack on working-class immigrant communities. The group accused state leaders of enabling billionaire Steve Cohen to profit from vulnerable residents and warned that the casino would fuel addiction, crime, and displacement while extracting revenue from those least able to afford it. The Center announced a Dec. 14 protest and urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject the license, while thanking Sen. Jessica Ramos for opposing the project. They argued that if casinos are deemed unsuitable for Manhattan and Brooklyn, Queens should not be targeted either.
Environmental organizations have also raised alarms, arguing the plan would privatize significant portions of public parkland and fail to address long-standing climate resilience issues around Flushing Creek and Flushing Bay. Community groups say they are concerned about the risk of displacement and the potential social impacts of placing a high-capacity gambling complex between Flushing, Corona, Jackson Heights, and East Elmhurst.
The three casino approvals mark one of the final steps in a process that once drew more than a dozen bidders. With only three remaining projects under review and three licenses available, observers had widely expected the board to advance the full slate. The Gaming Commission now has the final word. If it approves the recommendations at the end of the month, New York City will move closer to becoming one of the largest casino markets in the United States.
