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New York regulators formally award downstate casino licenses to Bally's, Hard Rock, Resorts World
The licensing process for three downstate New York casinos officially ended on Monday as the Gaming Commission voted to accept committee recommendations.
The New York State Gaming Commission closed out its duties regarding downstate casinos this week, formally voting to accept three recommendations from the Gaming Facility Location Board. The recipients of the licenses include Bally's, Hard Rock, and Resorts World, clearing the way for future brick-and-mortar casinos in the Bronx and two different sections of Queens.
Regulators approve downstate casino licenses
In a Dec. 15 meeting, the New York State Gaming Commission held a necessary quorum to formalize the award of anticipated downstate casino licenses, setting the recipients up to pay licensing fees and move forward with developing their properties. All three facilities will lie within the boundaries of New York City.
Bally's will develop the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. Hard Rock is the gaming operational partner for Metropolitan Park, which will occupy the current parking space in Willets Point near Citi Field.
Resorts World New York City will expand its operations in Jamaica, Queens. The property currently offers slots and wagering on live horse racing at the Aqueduct Racetrack.
Timelines for completion of these projects vary. New York will collect more than a billion dollars in initial licensing fees, and then collect monthly privilege fees based on casinos' adjusted gaming revenues.
The awarding of these licenses could help clear the way for casino apps in New York, too.
New York online casinos could get new consideration
With the downstate casino licensing process complete, the attention in the state capitol in 2026 could shift to online casino regulation. That could enable New Yorkers to enjoy the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code offer like citizens of neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo has voiced optimism about advancing legislation to legalize iGaming with the downstate physical casino licensing issue out of the way. Addabbo has been successful in enacting previous gaming initiatives like the regulation of online sports wagering and the state's ban of online sweepstakes casinos.
While Addabbo has proposed previous legislation to regulate iGaming, it has received little consideration to date. For the 2025 session, for example, his filing never advanced out of committee.
Regardless of the fate of casino bonus codes in New York, New York City will be home to three resort-style casinos in the future. Monday's licensing decision sets the development stage for those facilities in motion.
