Empire City, Resorts World Push Forward in NYC Bids

Two of New York State’s highest-performing gaming venues cleared a major procedural hurdle Thursday when their Community Advisory Committees (CAC) voted unanimously to advance casino proposals to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. Resorts World New York City and MGM’s Empire City now join the short list of bidders that could secure one of three commercial casino licenses the state plans to award by year-end.

The approvals follow earlier rejections this week of three rival Manhattan bids, making Resorts World and Empire City the first projects to move to the Location Board stage.

Empire City’s $2.3 billion transformation and big revenue lift

MGM plans a $2.3 billion reinvestment to convert the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway into a full commercial casino and entertainment destination, while keeping its historic horseracing track and parimutuel operations in place. Since opening in October 2006, Empire City Casino has contributed more than $5 billion to New York State education funds, including $1.6 billion after MGM Resorts assumed ownership in 2019.

MGM projects the enlarged venue would generate between $1.03 billion and $1.39 billion in annual gross gaming revenue (GGR), a rise of roughly 92 percent to 129 percent over current video lottery terminal operations. Those forecasts are central to the proposal’s pitch to the Location Board, which will weigh economic impact, community benefits, and fiscal returns.

Read our full review of Empire City Casino here.

Resorts World aims for a $5.5 billion integrated resort

Genting Group’s Resorts World New York City proposes a $5.5 billion expansion to evolve its current VLT facility into an integrated resort. Genting says the project would generate about $1 billion in new incremental revenue by next year, and has pointed to its track record: since opening in 2011, RWNYC has been the nation’s highest-grossing VLT property and one of the state’s largest taxpayers, contributing more than $4.5 billion to New York’s public education fund.

“On behalf of the entire Resorts World team, I want to thank the Community Advisory Committee for recognizing the impact we will have not only on Queens but all of New York City and State,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East. His statement noted widespread local support during the CAC hearings and framed the project as a continuation of the venue’s community role. Learn more about Resorts World New York City Casino here.

Resorts World also features online and on-site gaming content from providers such as Pragmatic Play, which the company has used across multiple products and platforms.

What the CAC approvals mean — and what comes next

CAC approval is a required step that signals local buy-in on community impacts, traffic, and neighborhood concerns. With two proposals now cleared, the Location Board will review economic projections, community benefit commitments, and operational plans before selecting winners. The board is expected to make three license awards by the end of the year, with detailed financial and development conditions attached to each award.

The remaining three bidders face final CAC votes early next week: Bally’s Bronx and The Coney’s will be voted on Monday, while Metropolitan Park’s CAC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. Those outcomes will determine which other proposals reach the Location Board.

Stakes for the state and neighborhoods

Winning proposals are positioned to deliver sizable tax revenue for education and local governments, along with construction and permanent jobs tied to expanded casino operations. Both Empire City and Resorts World emphasized continued community commitments, from preserving racetrack operations at Yonkers to ongoing neighborhood engagement in Queens.

As the process moves to the Location Board, attention will turn to the comparative financial models, job promises, and community mitigation plans each bidder offers. The board’s decisions will shape New York’s commercial casino landscape for years to come, with selected projects expected to become major footprint players in the state’s gaming economy.