The bets are in and the cards are on the table.
What You Need To Know
The Gaming Facility Location Board will vote Monday on who should get state gaming licenses
That decision must be ratified by the Gaming Commission
Three licenses are up for grabs, but not all three may be issued
On Monday, a five-member state board will vote on which casino proposals should get a state gaming license. There are three licenses up for grabs, but the board does not have to issue any.
In what has been a years long competition, where there had once been about a dozen applicants, there are now only three.
They include Bally’s in the Bronx, Metropolitan Park pitched by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock next to Citi Field, and Resorts World, which is also in Queens.
Resorts World had been an early favorite since it is already operating slot machines at its facility in Ozone Park. Officials there are pitching a large expansion of their current facility to include table games.
Bally’s in the Bronx, meanwhile, has been a dark horse, struggling to get its needed zoning approvals through the council to be ultimately rescued by Mayor Eric Adams. The Bally’s team is pitching an expansive casino and hotel next to its Ferry Point golf course.
And finally, Steve Cohen’s proposal to morph the parking lots surrounding Citi Field has received the most attention — promising to build a large casino and resort, food hall and park.
Even with some neighborhood opposition, they are seen as another strong candidate for the license.
Once the board makes its decision on Monday, the actual licenses will be issued by the state gaming commission.
That commission will ensure each applicant meets certain ethical and financial standards before handing out the highly lucrative licenses.