New York City has taken a decisive step towards transforming itself into a gambling destination to rival Las Vegas, after officials gave the final approval for three full-sized casino resorts. The move, backed by Governor Kathy Hochul, is touted as a major economic driver but has ignited significant controversy among residents who fear a surge in crime and addiction.
The Big Gamble: Billions in Revenue vs. Community Backlash
The New York State Gaming Commission voted to grant licences for three major developments: an expansion of the existing Resorts World New York City in Jamaica, Queens; the Bally's Bronx resort on the site of a former Trump golf course; and the Metropolitan Park casino, a joint venture by Hard Rock and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, adjacent to Citi Field in Queens.
Proponents, including Governor Hochul, argue the projects will be transformative. 'The three approved casinos will generate billions of dollars for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and education, create tens of thousands of jobs and deliver real benefits to their surrounding communities,' Hochul stated after the vote. Officials estimate the casinos will bring nearly $7 billion in gambling tax revenue to state coffers between 2027 and 2036, plus a combined $1.5 billion one-time licensing fee.
Gaming Commission Chair Brian O'Dwyer highlighted the creation of approximately 11,500 permanent full-time jobs. Promised salaries are substantial, with Metropolitan Park claiming an average base hourly wage of $60.11, rising to over $110 with benefits.
Local Fears: Addiction, Crime and Economic Drain
Despite the promised windfall, the decision has been met with fury in the communities directly affected. In Queens, where two of the three casinos will be located, residents and local politicians have voiced profound concerns.
Graciela Quispe, a 27-year-old Corona resident, protested with the Flushing Anti-Casino Group ahead of the December 15 vote. 'This area is surrounded by crime already... My neighbourhood struggles with addictions to substances. It's also a red light district already, and a casino is definitely going to exacerbate those things,' she told the Daily Mail.
State Senator Jessica Ramos, a progressive Democrat who represents the area around the proposed Metropolitan Park site, has been a vocal opponent. She argues casinos often harm local economies. 'Though those jobs are good, union jobs, the casinos suck the economy out of their neighbouring commercial corridors,' Ramos said. She fears businesses in Elmhurst and Corona could close as spending is trapped inside the casino walls.
Ramos also raised alarms about the Roosevelt Avenue corridor, already plagued by organised crime, sex trafficking, and loan sharking. 'Putting a casino right next to all of that will only make conditions worse,' she warned.
Expert Skepticism and the Vegas Parallel
Academic research casts doubt on the promised economic boom. Jonathan Krutz, a former economics professor at Boise State University, has studied casino impacts for nearly three decades. A 2022 study he authored found that casinos frequently 'siphoned spending away from existing businesses' and could act as a drag on local employment and retail sales growth, especially during recessions.
'Over the 15-year period that was studied, areas with casinos had a lower rate of employment than areas without casinos,' Krutz claimed, suggesting the new jobs may be offset by losses elsewhere in the community.
As New York embarks on this gamble, its inspiration, Las Vegas, is facing headwinds. Harry Reid International Airport saw an 8.9% drop in passenger traffic in October 2024 compared to the previous year, signalling a potential cooling in the traditional gambling mecca's appeal.
The approved projects now face a final procedural check by the Gaming Commission by December 31. Resorts World is slated to open its expanded facility, including new table games, by spring 2026. The Bally's Bronx and Metropolitan Park mega-resorts, each promising over 500,000 square feet of gaming space, are projected to open in 2030. The city's high-stakes bet on becoming the new Vegas has been placed; only time will tell if it pays off for the state treasury and its communities.
