New York’s Casino Licensing Race Enters Final Stretch

With two weeks remaining before a key deadline, New York’s downstate casino competition is again gaining momentum. The state’s Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) is expected to issue licensing recommendations on 1 December, but there is growing uncertainty over whether all three available licences will be awarded.

After several quiet weeks, board members conducted site visits Monday at the three finalists — Resorts World New York City, Metropolitan Park, and Bally’s Bronx. According to the GFLB, the visits were designed to assess transportation access, parking, infrastructure, and site layout. Board members did not speak to media, consistent with a process that has unfolded almost entirely behind closed doors.

Since 30 September, the board has met seven times and appears to have adopted a weekly schedule. That leaves one more likely meeting date before the deadline, though the Thanksgiving holiday could affect timing. Any recommendations will be advisory only; the New York State Gaming Commission will make the final licensing decisions. nThe precedent offers little clarity. In the last major casino licensing round in 2014–15, the GFLB recommended four upstate casinos but only three were licensed initially. A fourth license was awarded the following year.

 

• Licensing Uncertainty: With the 1 December deadline approaching, New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board recommendations are expected, but not all three downstate casino licences may be awarded.

• Legal Complications: The USTA lawsuit challenges the Metropolitan Park project over lease rights at Citi Field, temporarily blocking the city from finalizing a pre-development agreement.

• Bid Revisions: Resorts World NYC, previously the most aggressive bidder, is reportedly seeking to adjust its proposed licence fees and tax rates, adding further uncertainty to the process.

 

USTA Lawsuit Adds New Risk for Metropolitan Park Bid

One of the most significant late developments emerged last week when the United States Tennis Association (USTA) filed suit against New York City. The complaint argues that the city violated lease obligations by advancing negotiations with Metropolitan Park without consulting the USTA.

The USTA operates the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center next to Citi Field and holds several rights tied to the annual US Open, including parking access, protection from competing events, and exclusive control over concessions and hospitality for 23 days each year. The lawsuit does not seek damages but requests declaratory and injunctive relief.

On Friday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the city from ratifying a new pre-development agreement (PDA) for the proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park project. The USTA says it repeatedly asked the city for the draft agreement but was not given access.

Despite the order, Metropolitan Park spokesman Karl Rickett said a compliant PDA had been signed with the city. He described it as a step forward for a project billed as a major sports and entertainment hub for Queens. The US Open generates an estimated $1.25 billion in annual economic impact and drew 1.1 million visitors in 2025, giving the USTA significant leverage in the dispute.

Resorts World Reconsiders Aggressive Bid Terms

Resorts World NYC, long seen as a frontrunner, is also generating concern. Bloomberg reported Monday that the casino plans to ask regulators to reconsider the unusually high tax rates and licensing fee it proposed earlier this year.

Resorts World had offered a $600 million fee and slot and table tax rates of 56% and 30%. By comparison, Bally’s has proposed 30% and 10%, while Metropolitan Park offered 25% and 10%, the minimum allowed. Any pullback by Resorts World would be a major shift, as it has consistently presented itself as the state’s most lucrative option. This hesitation comes after three major operators — Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, and MGM Resorts — withdrew from the process over the past year. MGM’s exit was especially unexpected; it had been widely viewed as a near-certain licensee.

If Resorts World reduces its commitments or withdraws, the impact could be significant. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has projected at least $1.8 billion in licensing fees and tax revenue from the casino process, revenue that New York state is counting on as it navigates a projected $34 billion cumulative budget gap through fiscal year 2029.

 

We have successfully signed our pre-development agreement with the city. This moves forward Metropolitan Park as a comprehensive transformation of the area that embraces the existing sports attractions to create a world-class sports and entertainment destination in the heart of Queens.

 

A Decision Approaches

Despite the long-running effort to award three downstate casino licences, the window for finalizing agreements is narrowing. Legal challenges, shifting financial terms, and the opaque nature of the board’s deliberations have made the outcome less predictable than anticipated. With recommendations due on 1 December and only one likely board meeting left, New York’s casino process is heading toward a decisive but still uncertain conclusion.