Resorts World, Empire City Secure NYC Approval

Two major New York gaming operators have cleared a crucial hurdle in their quest to secure full commercial casino licenses, positioning themselves as frontrunners in the state's competitive bidding process.

Resorts World New York City and MGM's Empire City Casino both received unanimous approval from their Community Advisory Committees (CACs) on Thursday, marking the first successful votes in what has been a challenging approval process for casino expansion in the Empire State.

Manhattan Bids Face Early Rejection

The approvals come after three Manhattan-based casino proposals were rejected by their respective CACs earlier this week, highlighting the significant community opposition facing urban casino developments. This leaves the outer borough venues as the clear leaders in New York's race to award three new commercial casino licenses by year-end.

The successful votes demonstrate strong local support for expanding existing gaming operations rather than introducing entirely new casino facilities in densely populated areas.

Empire City's $2.3 Billion Transformation Plan

MGM Resorts plans to invest $2.3 billion to transform Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway into a full-scale commercial casino and entertainment destination. The expansion will maintain the venue's historic horseracing operations while adding table games and other casino amenities currently restricted under video lottery terminal (VLT) regulations.

Since MGM assumed ownership in 2019, Empire City has contributed $1.6 billion to New York State education funding. The casino has generated over $5 billion for state education programs since opening in October 2006.

The expanded facility projects annual gross gaming revenue between $1.03 billion and $1.39 billion, representing a 92% to 129% increase over current VLT operations. This revenue boost would significantly enhance the venue's contribution to state coffers and local economic development.

Resorts World's $5.5 Billion Integrated Resort Vision

Genting Group's Resorts World New York City is proposing an even larger $5.5 billion expansion to create an integrated resort complex. The project aims to generate $1 billion in new incremental revenue within its first year of full operation.

Since opening in 2011, Resorts World NYC has established itself as the nation's highest-grossing VLT facility and New York State's largest individual taxpayer. The Queens-based venue has contributed more than $4.5 billion to the state's public education fund over its 13-year operating history.

Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, expressed gratitude for the unanimous community support: "We are incredibly grateful to the large number of residents, partners, and supporters who touted this project, without a single person speaking against it. This is a testament to our mission – solidified over the last 15 years – to be the best neighbor possible here in Queens."

Remaining Bids Face Critical Votes

Three additional casino proposals await their final CAC decisions in the coming week. Bally's Bronx and The Coney's will face their community votes on Monday, while Metropolitan Park's proposal goes before its advisory committee on Tuesday.

These remaining votes will determine whether New York's casino expansion focuses primarily on existing gaming venues or includes new market entrants. The current trend suggests communities prefer expanding proven operators over introducing entirely new casino developments.

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board will make final license awards based on CAC recommendations, financial projections, and community impact assessments. Both approved venues now advance to the final evaluation phase, where they'll compete for three available commercial casino licenses.

The successful CAC votes for Resorts World and Empire City reflect their established track records as responsible gaming operators and significant contributors to state revenue. Their existing relationships with local communities and proven economic impact give them substantial advantages in the final licensing process.