New York City's long-awaited casino expansion has taken a decisive step forward, with state officials endorsing two multi-billion dollar proposals and a major upgrade to an existing venue. The moves bring the city closer to its first full-scale casinos with live table games.
State Board Backs Major Developments
A key state gaming board gave its crucial recommendation on Monday, 1 December 2025, for three significant projects. The endorsement covers a $4 billion Bally's casino plan for the Bronx and an $8.1 billion Hard Rock casino proposal next to Citi Field in Queens. Alongside these, a plan to transform the Resorts World slots parlour in Queens into a full casino was also approved.
The recommendations now proceed to the New York State Gaming Commission, which is expected to grant the formal licences before year's end. State budget plans already account for the anticipated gambling revenues from these facilities.
Details of the Endorsed Proposals
The competition for the coveted New York City licences has been fierce. Initially, around eight proposals were in contention as recently as September. However, several high-profile plans, including a Jay-Z-backed Caesars Palace in Times Square and other Manhattan resorts, failed to gain necessary local support and were eliminated.
In the Bronx, Bally's aims to develop a massive complex on part of the city-owned Ferry Point golf course. Notably, this development promises a significant financial windfall for former President Donald Trump. His organisation sold the operating rights for the public course to Bally's in 2023, with a clause for an additional $115 million payment if a casino licence is secured.
In Queens, billionaire New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is behind the ambitious Hard Rock casino plan, slated for the team's Citi Field parking lot. The proposed complex includes a performance venue, a 1,000-room hotel, and extensive retail space.
Meanwhile, Malaysia-based Resorts World has pledged over $5 billion to upgrade its Aqueduct Race Track venue near JFK Airport from a 'racino' with slots to a full casino offering blackjack, poker, and hotel amenities.
Community Impact and Next Steps
The state gaming board highlighted numerous community benefits promised by the developers, ranging from public safety investments to improvements in public transit and roadways. The board also cited unique aspects of each plan, such as the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course in the Bally's proposal and the Hard Rock's potential to unify the vibrant area around the Mets' ballpark.
Not all reaction was positive. During the meeting at the CUNY Graduate Center, anti-casino protesters were escorted out while chanting "Shame on you!".
The path to this point began with a 2013 statewide referendum that authorised up to three casino licences for the New York City area. While four full casinos have opened upstate since then, the city itself has been limited to gambling halls with only electronic machines.
With the board's endorsement, the final decision now rests with the state Gaming Commission. If licences are issued as anticipated, construction on these transformative projects could begin shortly, permanently altering New York City's entertainment and economic landscape.
