The competition for three downstate New York casino licences in 2025 was not only fought through development proposals and political negotiations. It was also reflected in lobbying spending that placed several casino bidders among the largest lobbyists in New York City.

A new annual report from the **New York City Office of the City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau**, released Sunday, shows that companies behind the winning bids—**Bally’s Corporation**, **Genting Group**’s Resorts World operation, and the **Hard Rock International**–backed Metropolitan Park project—were among the city’s top lobbying spenders for the second consecutive year. The report ranks corporate lobbying expenditures across New York City. All three licence winners appeared in the top ten in 2025.

The Developments

The entity behind the Metropolitan Park proposal, Queens Future LLC, reported $1.68 million in lobbying expenditures, the highest among casino bidders and the second-largest lobbying total citywide. Genting New York LLC, which operates Resorts World in Queens, spent $1.14 million, ranking fourth in the city. Bally’s Corporation reported $830,661, placing sixth.

Another casino hopeful, the Coney Island proposal known as “The Coney,” also appeared near the top of the list. Its corporate vehicle, TSG Coney Island Entertainment Holdco, spent about $1.4 million on lobbying—third-most among all companies in the city—despite ultimately being denied approval by its community advisory committee.

Lobbying strategies differed across bidders. Queens Future and Bally’s each retained 12 lobbying firms, the most of any companies in the city. Genting used three firms, while the Coney Island proposal employed four.

### Spending trend stretched across several years

The heavy spending did not emerge suddenly during the final year of the licensing process. Lobbying records show that the same three projects also ranked as the top casino lobbyists in 2024.

That year, the Metropolitan Park project reported $1.35 million in lobbying spending, the highest total in the city. Genting followed with $990,000, while Bally’s reported $914,161. The Metropolitan Park bid relied on 14 lobbying firms in 2024, again the largest number retained by any company.

The project’s lobbying campaign dates back even further. In 2023, two entities associated with the development were among the city’s ten largest lobbying spenders. New Green Willets LLC, an entity connected to Mets owner **Steve Cohen**, spent $946,809, while casino partner **Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment** reported $660,000.

Combined spending by the two groups that year exceeded $1.5 million, a level consistent with expenditures in the following years.

Among the three eventual licence winners, Metropolitan Park is also the largest project financially. Its estimated $8 billion development cost exceeds the $5.5 billion Resorts World expansion and Bally’s $4 billion Bronx proposal. Cohen’s personal wealth has been cited by analysts as a factor supporting the project’s financial stability. According to **Forbes**, Cohen’s net worth is estimated at $23 billion.

High stakes intensified political competition

The scale of the proposals reflects the expected size of the New York casino market. The **New York Gaming Facility Location Board**, which recommended the final licence recipients, has projected that the casinos could generate roughly $7 billion in gaming tax revenue and an additional $5.9 billion in other tax revenue between 2027 and 2036. Those projections helped create an intensely competitive environment. At one stage, as many as 11 proposals were under consideration, each requiring a series of zoning approvals, legislative actions and local endorsements before advancing.

The Metropolitan Park proposal illustrates the political challenges. The project initially stalled when state senator **Jessica Ramos** declined to sponsor the rezoning legislation needed to advance the plan. Developers later secured support from state senator **John Liu**, whose district overlaps a smaller portion of the site, allowing the measure to move forward.

Across several affiliated entities, the Metropolitan Park project reported roughly $4.6 million in lobbying spending over three years through 2025. The **Bronx** proposal from Bally’s also encountered political obstacles. City Council members initially opposed zoning changes tied to the project.

The race for New York’s downstate casino licences turned into one of the city’s most expensive lobbying battles.

Outlook

Former New York City mayor **Eric Adams** intervened twice during the process. In one case, he lowered the council approval threshold by issuing a letter of recommendation. In another, he vetoed a council rejection of the project, arguing that the full field of applicants should remain in contention during the licensing process.

Beyond lobbying costs, Bally’s faces significant financial commitments tied to the development. The company must pay a $500 million casino licence fee and invest at least $500 million in capital. It also agreed to a $115 million payment to the **Trump Organization**, from which it purchased the Bronx site. The payment becomes due only if the project secures a casino licence.

The New York project arrives while Bally’s is simultaneously pursuing major developments in Chicago and Las Vegas and attempting to stabilize **Star Entertainment Group**, the Australian casino operator in which it holds a stake. The company has not yet released its fourth-quarter or full-year financial results.