MGM and Genting Win Key Approval for New York City Casino Expansion

Two major Las Vegas-linked casino operators, MGM Resorts International and Genting Group, have cleared a significant hurdle in New York's casino licensing process. On Thursday, both companies received unanimous approval from six-member Community Advisory Committees (CACs), allowing them to advance their proposals to convert their existing racetrack casinos in Yonkers (MGM's Empire City Casino) and Queens (Genting's Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack) into full-scale casino resorts.

This local endorsement is a key requirement before New York gaming regulators can consider any license application. MGM and Genting are now well-positioned to secure two of the three available downstate Class III gaming licenses. These licenses would allow them to expand their offerings to include live dealer table games and traditional slot machines, moving beyond the video lottery terminals and electronic table games currently in place. The transition is expected to result in multibillion-dollar investments in the greater New York City area and generate substantial new state revenue.

Both properties are already among the most successful in the country, with Resorts World NYC ranking as the highest-grossing commercial casino outside Nevada and Mississippi, and Empire City Casino ranking sixth, according to the American Gaming Association.

Applicants for these licenses must pay a one-time fee of $500 million and commit to at least $500 million in capital investments. MGM, beyond its Yonkers property, also operates top-performing casinos in Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Genting, meanwhile, owns Resorts World Catskills, though its future is uncertain after Sullivan County officials took over the property.

Meanwhile, CACs in Manhattan have rejected three casino bids, and other high-profile proposals-including those from Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands-have been withdrawn or abandoned amid local opposition.

For the third and final downstate Class III license, three main proposals remain in contention:

• Metropolitan Park (Willets Point, Queens): Hard Rock International and Mets owner Steve Cohen are proposing a $8 billion, 50-acre entertainment complex adjacent to Citi Field. Despite some opposition, the CAC is expected to vote in favor on September 30.
• Bally's Bronx Casino: Bally's Corp. wants to build a casino resort at Ferry Point in The Bronx, on part of a public golf course. The proposal has lukewarm support, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams has already backed the project once. The Bronx CAC will vote on September 29.

• Coney Island Casino: Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings, and the Chickasaw Nation propose a casino in Brooklyn's Coney Island. The Brooklyn CAC is expected to reject this proposal on September 29.

If approved, the new licenses would reshape New York's gaming landscape, potentially bringing Las Vegas-style resorts to the nation's largest city and its surroundings.