The Gaming Facility Location Board greenlights Bally’s, Resorts World and Hard Rock projects
New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board has recommended approving all three downstate casino licenses, signaling a major expansion of the city’s gaming landscape. The board voted in favor of Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park plan in Queens, an expansion of Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack, and a new Bally’s casino and hotel in the Bronx. Final approval now moves to the state gaming commission, which is expected to decide later this month.
Cohen’s $8 billion Metropolitan Park project would reshape 50 acres around Citi Field. The proposal includes a Hard Rock casino, hotel, food hall, live entertainment spaces, and 25 acres of public parkland. It also promises to support the development of 450 affordable housing units off-site. The project has been one of the most closely watched due to its size and location.
Resorts World aims to upgrade its existing facility into a full-scale Las Vegas–style resort. The $5 billion expansion would add 6,000 slot machines, 800 table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, and a 7,000-seat concert venue. Given its current footprint and established customer base, the project has long been considered a frontrunner.
Bally’s secured the third recommendation with a plan to build a large casino complex at the former Trump Ferry Point site. The proposal includes a 500,000-square-foot gaming floor, a 500-room hotel, retail space, event venues, and parking garages. It would mark the first major casino development in the Bronx.
Each developer will be required to pay a $500 million licensing fee if approved, with construction expected to begin between 2026 and 2030. The recommendations set the stage for one of the most significant economic development pushes New York has seen in years.
