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Meadowlands plans to expand into full-scale casino with NYC-area facilities set to open
Three casinos are coming to the New York City area, and New Jersey officials are looking to prevent losing revenue to their neighbors by pushing for a full-scale casino at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Atlantic City has long been known as America's Playground, but now there's unprecedented competition heading its way that could result in gambling revenue heading out of New Jersey and into New York. The New York State Gaming Commission recently awarded three licenses to gaming companies that intend to expand or build retail casinos in the New York City area. With that in mind, public officials and business executives in New Jersey are pushing for a full-scale casino at Meadowlands Racetrack, located just across the Hudson River from NYC. If you're in New Jersey, use the Borgata Casino promo code SPORTSLINEBORG for up to $1,020 in casino credits:
Downstate NY casinos inspire NJ lawmakers to expand gaming near border
After New York Gov. Kathy Hochul approved the release of three downstate casino licenses in 2022, around a dozen interested parties began looking into plans for NYC-area facilities. Ultimately, though, three recipients were chosen: Bally's in Ferry Point, Hard Rock in Queens and Resorts World NYC in Queens.
Not only would those brick-and-mortars potentially draw visitors from New Jersey, but it also frees up another push by NY lawmakers to legalize online casino sites for real money – coincidentally as a response to losing tax revenue to New Jersey online casinos.
While he recognized that Manhattan-based casinos would pose a stronger threat to New Jersey than the Ferry Point and Queens locations, NJ Sen. Paul Sarlo said in a statement that the state's focus following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, partly staged at MetLife Stadium next to Meadowlands Racetrack, should be on building a world-class convention center and casino at the track as well as a gaming facility at Monmouth Park racetrack in Central Jersey.
Sarlo has pitched this idea before, calling on voters to approve of the effort in 2025. Residents would need to support a constitutional amendment to follow through with these plans, which has yet to occur. If you're in New Jersey, get up to $1,000 and 500 spins at DraftKings Casino:
Voters would need to approve of constitutional amendment for more NJ casinos
For a constitutional amendment to appear on the ballot, which New Jersey gaming expansion proponents hope to have in November 2026, it must first be passed by a supermajority in both the state Senate and Assembly or approved twice by a simple majority in both chambers.
That means the state legislature would need to pass a proposed constitutional amendment in June before voters can weigh in on the matter.
If all goes well, Meadowlands and Monmouth could then partner with casino operators and begin work on full-scale gambling facilities.
The idea of expanding gaming offerings at the racetracks has been floated before, with voters rejecting a 2016 notion that would have allowed for a casino in North Jersey.
That referendum, however, was written in a way that made it seem like the casino could go anywhere in the area rather than specifically at Meadowlands Racetrack. This time around, with NJ officials now knowing the location of downstate New York casinos as well as with newly elected Gov. Mikie Sherrill in office, there is plenty of optimism that a referendum would pass in 2026.
As Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural told NorthJersey.com: "We wouldn't put anything on the ballot unless we're sure it would pass."
