The New York Gaming Facility Location Board recently approved three proposed NYC commercial casino locations, including one that will be coming to Citi Field in Queens. The state’s long-awaited casino licensing process is entering a crucial phase.
Predictably, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. released a statement about the future of NY online casinos as it relates to the New York down-state casino licensing process and after SB5935, a bill that bans sweepstakes casinos, was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in early December.
Senator Addabbo Jr. said the state is “better positioned to hold serious discussions about regulating and potentially legalizing iGaming in the near future, possibly as part of the upcoming budget process.”
Senator Addabbo Jr. will likely reintroduce NY online casinos legislation this winter. His effort last year did not gain traction: S2614 never received a hearing.
The potential for NY real money online casinos in terms of revenue is enormous. Neighboring New Jersey tallied $2.38 billion in gross iGaming revenue in 2024.
This page breaks down the latest NYC casino updates, including the greenlit Hard Rock Casino at Citi Field project, the other competing New York City casino projects, the recent sweepstakes casino ban and what it all means for the future of online casinos in the Empire State.
NYC casino licenses: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park approved
The Hard Rock Metropolitan Project will be turning 50 acres of asphalt at Citi Field to a full interactive consumer experience. The cost is estimated $8.1 billion. The complex, privately funded by New York Mets’ billionaire owner Steve Cohen, is projected to open in June 2030. It will include:
- 20 acres of public parking space
- Bars and restaurants
- Hard Rock Sportsbook
- Live music venue
- Hotel towers
- Tailgate park
- Community athletic fields
- Playground
- Renovated train station
“It’s time New York got the sports and entertainment park it deserves. When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better,” Cohen said in a statement.
“Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy, but can be truly proud of.”
The Gaming Facility Location Board reports that these NYC casinos will bring new jobs to the area, while also generating billions of dollars in tax revenue.
Other NYC casino locations
Hard Rock at Citi Field is just one of three proposed NYC casino locations. There is expected to be a second casino in Queens as well as one in the Bronx. Here’s what we know about the other two downstate casino bids:
Bally’s Bronx
The Bally’s Bronx project is expected to feature a resort that’s located on approximately 16 acres within Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point. There will be a Bally’s Casino in addition to a 500-room hotel that offers a spa, fitness center and suites overlooking the Manhattan skyline and the East River.
Bally’s Bronx is anticipated to affect the NYC economy in the following ways:
- Total Upfront Investment: $4 million
- Total Enumerated Community Benefits: $625 million
- Union Construction Jobs: 15,000
- Permanent Union Jobs: 4,000
Here is a statement from chairman of Bally’s Corporation, Soo Kim, said on the matter:
“The Bally’s commitment to The Bronx remains unwavering. From the beginning, we have sought to build a proposal that reflects the priorities of this community—through a $625 million community benefits package that includes job creation, housing and school support, infrastructure upgrades, public safety enhancements, and a first-of-its-kind community investment program offering Bronx residents a path to ownership. Bet with Bally’s on the Bronx!“
Resorts World New York City
The other NYC casino location will be positioned in the Bronx. Resorts World New York City is expected to open its first phase as early as March 2026, which will begin with hundreds of table game options. By the end of construction, RWNYC will offer:
- 500,000-square-foot gaming floor with 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games
- 2,000 hotel rooms
- A 7,000-seat multipurpose entertainment venue
- Over 7,000 parking spaces
- More than 12 acres of new public green space
When it comes to economic impact, RWNYC plans to hire up to 2,000 employees, build up to 50,000 units of workforce housing across the five boroughs and generate billions in new revenue for mass transit and public education over the next four years.
President of Genting Americas East, Robert DeSalvio, recently released a statement about the RWNYC proposal:
“Resorts World New York City’s journey to this historic moment represents more than 15 years of work to generate jobs, revenue, and opportunities for our neighbors.”
New York sweepstakes casino ban: What it means
Sweepstakes casinos in New York are taking their last breaths after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 5935 into law in early December. This final decision comes after months of legal back-and-forths, which even included cease-and-desist orders from NY’s attorney general.
Many sweepstakes casinos already ceased operations in the Empire State following legislation passed back in June 2025. The signing of Senate Bill 5935 officially puts a stop to the sweeps industry in New York.
Will NY online casinos be legal next?
The legalization of real money online casinos in the state of New York has been a hot-button topic for many years.
In 2025, New York senator Joe Addabbo proposed a bill to reintroduce NY online casino legislation, but a hearing never occurred.
In May 2024, about 44% of the 532 constituents in Addabbo’s district supported online casino gaming. It’s clear the Addabbo is leading the charge for the legalization of NY online casinos, wanting to get ahead of potential addiction growth, citing:
“If we want to be serious about addiction, you need to regulate so we can monitor activity; you want to catch it before the addiction hits.”
New York is surrounded by states that have legalized online casino gambling with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut all allowing residents over 21 to participate.
With the down-state licensing process nearly complete, it might be a matter of time (maybe 2-3 years) before NY online casinos are legalized.
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