Everything you need to know about New York casinos: map, locations, and bidders

New York isn’t exactly known as a hot spot for Russian Roulette, poker, or traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, but that could be about to change in a big way. Right now, some of the biggest developers in the country are battling for the chance to build the city’s very first casino. And pretty much everyone has something to say about it, from state senators to union workers.

Last Thursday (June 26), supporters and critics of the eight proposed downstate casino projects held rallies all over the city. They made their voices heard ahead of the June 27 deadline for developers to submit their bids.

Getting to this point hasn’t been smooth. The mayor and several elected officials are backing the idea, but plenty of community leaders are pushing back. They argue that casinos would bring more traffic, increase crime, and derail the region’s fragile recovery from the pandemic.

The stakes are sky-high, and the lobbying has been fierce. With billions of dollars in future profits on the line, deep-pocketed backers are going all in as they prepare to make their final moves. Here’s a closer look at what each casino proposal brings to the table.

Which casinos are bidding on New York?

As expected, eight bidders are all in the running for what could be an incredibly lucrative gaming license. The state plans to issue up to three of them, which has set off a frenzy among developers. This also kicks off a community approval process, and public hearings are set to take place later this summer.

New York casinos map of proposed sites Proposed casino locations across New York City and nearby areas, with eight bidders vying for state licenses to build. Credit: ReadWrite Caesars Palace Times Square Location: 1515 Broadway in midtown Manhattan

Caesars Palace Times Square is backed by SL Green, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation, aiming to bring a casino to the heart of Times Square.

“Today’s submission represents years of hard work, partnership, and belief in New York City’s future.” – Brett Herschenfeld, Executive Vice President of SL Green Realty

SL Green and Caesars Entertainment have big plans to transform an old office building into a 992-room hotel. Part of it would be set aside for a boutique Nobu-branded hotel, adding a touch of luxury to the mix.

A rendering of the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square casino, which would bring a luxury gaming and entertainment destination to Manhattan’s busiest hub. Credit: Image by Binyan Studios

The project also includes a 150,000 square foot casino and four restaurants. On the ground floor, there would be a theater to round out the entertainment options. Because the site isn’t zoned for residential use, there are no plans to include housing in the development.

Freedom Plaza Location: Midtown East between First Avenue and FDR Drive

Freedom Plaza, a joint proposal from Soloviev Group and Mohegan, is planned for Midtown East just south of the United Nations headquarters on Manhattan’s east side.

“This application represents years of meaningful listening and collaboration, and it will uniquely deliver what New Yorkers need most: accessible green space, housing that working families can afford, and well-paying union jobs.” – Michael Hershman, Soloviev Group CEO

With a price tag of $11.1 billion, the development would feature 1,250 hotel rooms, more than 1,000 housing units, and a five-acre public park. The casino itself would be built underground, keeping the gambling action out of sight at street level.

A proposed view of Freedom Plaza in Midtown East, a massive $11.1 billion development with housing, hotels, parks, and an underground casino. Credit: Soloviev Group

The plan also includes a community reinvestment fund. Two percent of the annual gaming profits would go into programs like affordable housing, workforce development, and youth services, giving the project a pitch as more than just a luxury destination.

Avenir Location: 514 11th Ave., midtown Manhattan A vision for The Avenir in Hudson Yards, a proposed $7 billion casino and luxury hotel project from Silverstein Properties and partners. Credit: Silverstein Properties

Silverstein Properties, Rush Street Gaming, and Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment have partnered on Avenir, a project targeting Manhattan’s west side.

The company behind parts of the new World Trade Center is joining forces with Rush Street Gaming and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment to pitch a project called the Avenir.

“It will bring more security, enterprise, and entertainment on a level that doesn’t exist in one establishment and become a sophisticated addition to the New York skyline.” – Lisa Silverstein, Silverstein Properties CEO

The $7 billion development would cover 1.8 million square feet and include a casino, a 1,000-room luxury hotel in partnership with Hyatt Hotels, a variety of restaurants, and a food hall. The site for the project is a piece of undeveloped land at 41st Street and 11th Avenue, just north of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Silverstein fully owns the site.

Coney Island Location: Coney Island between Surf Avenue, Jones Walk, West 15th Street and Wonder Wheel Way

In Brooklyn, Thor Equities Group is partnering with the Chickasaw Nation and other investors on a $3.4 billion project set in Coney Island, the neighborhood once known as the city’s amusement capital.

“New York will always be our home and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to reclaim Coney Island’s legacy and bring new economic possibilities to an iconic neighborhood.” – Joe Sitt, Thor Equities Group chairman

Their proposal includes a 500-room hotel, a 2,400-seat concert venue, and space reserved for locally owned businesses. The team behind the bid says their project is unique because it could give the area a year-round economic boost in a neighborhood that usually goes quiet once beach season is over.

Metropolitan Park Location: Citi Field parking lot, Corona, Queens A rendering of Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, part of a proposed entertainment complex with a Hard Rock Hotel, casino, and public green space. Credit: Metropolitan Park

Steve Cohen, in partnership with Hard Rock International, has proposed Metropolitan Park near Citi Field in Queens.

The billionaire’s plan to build an entertainment complex next to Citi Field in Queens has already secured key support from local politicians. Cohen’s proposal would turn a parking lot into a massive destination featuring 25 acres of public park space with playgrounds and athletic fields. It also calls for a Queens food hall and a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with a live music venue, bars, and restaurants.

Flushing Skypark will be a game changer. I’m encouraged by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s commitment to making it happen or paying $100M to fix up Flushing Meadows Corona Park it they can’t. In that spirit, I’ll introduce legislation to make these benefits possible. pic.twitter.com/lWQTyNIhd3

— John C. Liu (@LiuNewYork) March 30, 2025

Cohen’s team says the project would create 23,000 jobs between construction and permanent positions. Full-time employees at Hard Rock Metropolitan Park are expected to earn an average salary of about $140,000. The plan also includes 450 units of fully affordable housing.

Resorts World New York City Location: 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica, Queens

Resorts World, operated by Genting, is seeking to expand its existing footprint in Ozone Park, Queens.

The Malaysian gambling giant Genting has put in its bid for a $5.5 billion expansion of its current Resorts World casino next to the Aqueduct horse-racing track. The company already runs one of the most profitable slot-machine parlors in the world at that location.

“Today is a major milestone for us to propose the world-class Resorts World Integrated Resort and further commit to this partnership and provide new career opportunities and tax revenue almost immediately, as soon as July 2026.” – Robert DeSalvio, Genting Americas East President

With a new license, it would be able to add table games like blackjack and roulette. Genting said the state could start seeing revenue from the new tables and slots within six months of getting approval.

The plans also call for 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat theater, and 30 restaurants and bars. The project would increase the permanent workforce at the site to about 5,000 employees and is expected to create another 5,000 union construction jobs during development.

Genting is no stranger to New York’s casino scene. It already operates a casino in Monticello in the Catskills, about two hours from the city. Since it has trained dealers and room to expand at its Queens site, the company says it could get table games running quickly and start bringing in more revenue for the state.

Bally’s Bronx Location: Ferry Point Park in the Bronx Bally’s vision for a $4 billion casino resort at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx, featuring a hotel, entertainment center, and waterfront views. Credit: Bally’s Corp

Bally’s Corporation is hoping to bring a casino to the Bronx with a $4 billion plan to expand its golf course. The proposal includes a 500-room hotel, a 2,000-seat entertainment center, a casino, and a spa. In March, a Bronx community board voted against the project after residents raised concerns about traffic. But the vote was only advisory. The proposal got a major boost earlier this month when the state legislature gave Bally’s permission to use public parkland for the development.

The Trump Organization, which sold the golf course to Bally’s in 2023, could also see a payday from the deal. It stands to collect an additional $115 million from Bally’s if the company’s license gets approved, according to testimony from a civil trial involving the president.

Empire City Casino Location: 810 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers MGM has submitted its bid for a New York commercial casino licence. Credit: MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts International wants to turn Empire City Casino in Yonkers into a full-scale casino resort. The company, which is the biggest casino operator on the Las Vegas Strip, is pitching a $2.3 billion expansion of its existing Empire City property at Yonkers Raceway, a harness-racing track. The plan includes adding table games, a high-limit gambling area, a 5,000-seat entertainment venue, three new restaurants, and a parking lot. It also calls for a school to train card dealers.

The proposal has already picked up support from local leaders, including Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, who has urged the state to approve the expansion. MGM said in a statement Thursday that if it gets the license, it expects to finish the project by the middle of 2029.

Is there opposition to the plans?

Last week, hundreds of Local 79 union members packed Times Square to rally alongside local businesses in support of a proposed Caesars Palace. The project is backed by rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and developer SL Green, who have promised to partner with union construction workers if their plan gets the green light.

The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) President Mike Hellstrom told the crowd in an impassioned speech: “I know where the entertainment capital of the world is. I know where good jobs are. I know where development is smart and where it’s not smart. And when we talk about this project, SL Green and Caesar, building a casino right here in Times Square, it’s nothing but smart.

“It’s the best bet that New York can make in authorizing and approving a casino license, right here in Times Square.”

THIS is the sound of over 1,000 #union members supporting the construction of @CaesarsPalace
Casino in @TimesSquareNYC! #FeelThePower #LaborersRisingpic.twitter.com/0GaCorBLuc

— Laborers Local 79 (@local79nyc) June 27, 2025

On the same day, Michael Hershman, CEO of developer Soloviev, showed off renderings for “Freedom Plaza,” a sprawling new complex they want to build on an empty lot in Kips Bay along the East River. Partnering with Mohegan Casinos, Hershman said the project would also create plenty of union jobs.

He added: “This application represents years of meaningful listening and collaboration, and it will uniquely deliver what New Yorkers need most: accessible green space, housing that working families can afford, and well-paying union jobs.

“With ongoing input from our neighbors, labor partners, and faith and civic leaders, we remain committed to building a project that creates lasting value for the community and all of New York City.”

The proposal includes two new residential skyscrapers that would rise 50 to 60 stories and bring 1,325 apartments to the area, with 510 of those set aside as affordable housing. There would also be two 51-story hotel towers offering 1,200 guest rooms split between Banyan Tree and Mohegan brands. At the base, plans call for a landscaped waterfront park, a museum, and a below-ground casino tucked beneath the skyscrapers.

When it comes to casinos, the house always wins, and everyone else loses. Yet another reason why we don't need a casino in Manhattan. https://t.co/ZWiRGPOfGZ

— Senator Liz Krueger (@LizKrueger) August 9, 2024

However, New York State Senator Liz Krueger, who chairs the finance committee, has been outspoken about her opposition to gambling. In August 2024, she posted on X, saying: “When it comes to casinos, the house always wins, and everyone else loses. Yet another reason why we don’t need a casino in Manhattan.”

Why is everyone so keen to build in downstate New York?

The story of a New York City casino has been more than a decade in the making. It started when the state signed off on seven new casinos, hoping to create jobs and bring in much-needed funding for local governments and schools. To give four upstate projects a chance to succeed and help struggling regions like the Catskills, officials put the downstate licenses on ice.

The pause lasted until 2022 when Governor Kathy Hochul added their authorization to the state budget and reopened the door for casinos in the city.

Building back better and stronger means using bold ideas to support NYS’s communities of color.

As @TheRevAL noted, @NYGovCuomo’s proposal would help communities of color recover from the recession. https://t.co/dhvq1UzXca

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 9, 2021

The goal was to boost tax revenue, create thousands of jobs, and breathe new life into communities still reeling from the pandemic. They were counting on a mix of heavyweight casino operators, developers, and investors eager to break into one of the most lucrative markets on the planet. With influences ranging from Asian gaming powerhouses to European business models, expectations soared.

But bringing a casino to New York City has turned out to be far messier than the upstate rollout. One of the biggest hurdles is a requirement that every proposal gets a thumbs-up from a community advisory committee made up of state and local officials. These boards will hold public hearings and cast crucial votes on which projects, if any, move ahead.

The clock is ticking. Winners are expected to be announced in early December, but there’s a twist. A heated mayoral race could upend the timeline. Mayor Eric Adams has been pushing for as many bids as possible, even helping Bally’s win city council approval to use public parkland for its pitch.

On the other hand, Zohran Mamdani, the likely Democratic nominee for mayor, has already made it clear he isn’t a fan of casinos. Earlier this month he said he would have voted against Steve Cohen’s Queens project and added that he opposes casino development in general.

For bidders, the process is almost like a high-stakes poker game. Each developer has to propose its own tax rate, striking a balance between offering enough to impress the state without setting the bar so high that their project can’t turn a profit. Those numbers will come later in the process. And no matter what, any winner will also have to pay a hefty $500 million licensing fee just to get in the game.

Are casinos generally allowed and legal in New York state?

Technically, New York State bans all forms of gambling under its constitution, but there are a few notable exceptions. These include the state lottery, pari-mutuel horse racing, casino gambling at up to seven facilities, bingo, and games of chance run by approved nonprofit organizations. Over time, though, these exceptions have grown so much that they have pretty much swallowed the rule.

The numbers show just how big gambling has become. According to the New York State Bar Association, when you combine the gross gambling revenue from tribal casinos, commercial casinos, and video lottery or racino facilities, New York’s land-based casinos brought in a massive $4.2 billion in gross gaming revenue.

Does New York have any casinos?

New York State is currently home to four commercial casinos where you can find live dealers, table games, slot machines, poker, and plenty of other gaming options. Each facility has division staff on site who are responsible for making sure operations follow all the rules and regulations down to the letter.

The four major casinos are Resorts World at Aqueduct in Thompson, del Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Seneca County, Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, and Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols.

What is the largest casino in NYC?

The largest casino in New York City is Resorts World Casino. It’s massive, covering 175,000 square feet spread across two floors. The casino features more than 5,500 slot machines and electronic table games.

Players can try their luck at baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, and three-card poker, but it’s worth noting that all of these are electronic versions. For some visitors, that can take a little getting used to since there are no live dealers.

What are the class III casinos in New York?

In New York, there are 16 federally approved Indian gaming operations, including casinos. This includes eight Class III Indian casinos that offer house-banked, Vegas-style gambling and four Class II Indian casinos that feature player-backed jackpots. On top of that, there are also several small fuel stations and convenience stores where Class II electronic gaming machines are authorized by the federal government.

The eight Class III Indian casinos in New York that offer full Vegas-style gaming are Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort, Point Place Casino, Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, Turning Stone Casino Resort, The Inn at Turning Stone, and Yellow Brick Road Casino.

Featured image: Composite image from MGM Resorts / Bally’s Corp / Metropolitan Park / Silverstein Properties / Soloviev Group / Binyan Studios

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