New York Casino Race Narrows to Four, Licensing Board Expands

Tuesday marked a pivotal moment in New York’s long-running downstate casino process, as state regulators both confirmed the final pool of applicants for three gaming licenses and named a new member to the board that will oversee the next stage of review.

The day began with the Metropolitan Park proposal winning approval from its community advisory committee (CAC), becoming the fourth and final project to clear the first local hurdle. The decision places Metropolitan Park alongside Bally’s Bronx, MGM Empire City, and Resorts World New York City as the only contenders moving forward. Four other applicants were rejected at the community level.

That same afternoon, the New York State Gaming Commission voted unanimously to appoint Cindy Estrada to the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB), filling the final open seat on the five-member panel. The board is responsible for evaluating the remaining casino bids and recommending up to three projects for licensing by year’s end. Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer, in brief remarks, underscored the magnitude of the task awaiting Estrada and her colleagues. “It is truly a Herculean task,” he said, adding that Estrada accepted the role with a clear understanding of the workload.

Estrada, who attended the hearing, expressed appreciation for the appointment but offered no further comment. She has served as executive director of the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2015 and previously held positions in fashion and travel. Raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and now a longtime Bronx resident, she becomes the only GFLB member with a personal tie to one of the boroughs directly represented in the bidding field.

 

Title	Subtitle	Key Point	Meta Description
Cindy Estrada Appointed to New York Gaming Facility Location Board	Final Four Casino Bids Advance	Estrada joins the GFLB as four bidders vie for three downstate licenses.	Cindy Estrada joins New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board as the final four casino bids advance for three downstate licenses in 2025.

 

A Full Board and a Tight Timeline

Estrada joins Vicki Been, a law professor at New York University who chairs the GFLB; Terryl Brown, vice president and general counsel at St. John’s University; Marion Phillips III, senior vice president for community development and DEI at U.S. News & World Report; and Greg Reimers, a retired real estate finance executive. By law, GFLB members must bring at least a decade of experience in financial, real estate, or economic matters, while maintaining independence from any gaming interests.

With its roster complete, the board now faces the task of restarting the review process for the four surviving applicants. Each must submit updated financial projections and project details, including proposed tax rates, by October 15. Under current rules, slot revenue must be taxed at a minimum of 25%, while other gaming starts at 10%.

The state’s two existing racinos, MGM Empire City in Yonkers and Resorts World in Queens, already operate under a slot tax rate of about 55%. MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle has suggested that his company expects to match that rate if granted a full license, though the Gaming Commission has not confirmed how such obligations will be applied.

 

Cindy Estrada was appointed to New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board on the same day the state finalized four contenders for three downstate casino licenses.

 

Billions at Stake

The GFLB will weigh each application on four criteria: economic activity (70%), local siting impact (10%), workforce development (10%), and diversity (10%). Recommendations must be delivered to the Gaming Commission by December 1, with up to three licenses issued by December 31.

Each license carries a $500 million fee, meaning the state could realize as much as $1.5 billion in immediate revenue. The windfall would arrive as New York faces a projected $34.3 billion budget gap through 2029.

While Tuesday’s developments narrowed the field and solidified the regulatory framework, the most contentious phase lies ahead. The four bidders now enter a high-stakes race not only to demonstrate economic promise but also to prove community value in one of the country’s most competitive gambling markets.