Two local racinos — Resorts World in Queens and MGM’s Empire City in Yonkers — took key steps toward winning licenses to become full casinos Thursday with a pair of votes advancing them to the final round of consideration for a license by the state.
They are the only casino applications so far to survive the committee approval process that has already killed three of the eight original contenders and appears poised to tke down a fourth.
Thursday’s unanimous votes by the respective Community Advisory Committees come as little surprise: Resorts World and Empire City, ideally positioned with exisitng facilities to level up their operations, have long been viewed as strong contnders for two of the maximum three downstate licenses on offer from the state.
A license issued by the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board would enable them to add lucrative table games such as blackjack and poker to their existing slot machine setups.
Genting Group’s $5.5 billion pitch to upgrade Resorts World in Jamaica, greenlit in a 6-0 vote, promises to create over 1,000 new hotel rooms, a performance venue, acres of public park space and thousands of units of workforce housing.
“We are incredibly grateful to the large number of residents, partners, and supporters who touted this project, without a single person speaking against it,” Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said in a statement. “This is a testament to our mission — solidified over the last 15 years — to be the best neighbor possible here in Queens.”
The Empire City proposal involves a $2.3 billion expansion of the current facilities in Yonkers, plus commitments including improvements to local streets and parks. It passed in a 5-0 vote.
“This facility has been begging for casino gaming for years,” said Joe Apicella, the committee appointee of County Executive Kenneth Jenkins. “If any place can make this work, Yonkers can make it work.”
Frank Jereis, who was appointed by Assemblymember Nader Sayegh, applauded “how smooth and successful” the casino application process has been in Yonkers compared to New York City, where it has proved far more contentious.
Three Manhattan casino applications — in Times Square, Hell’s Kitchen and Hudson Yards — were struck down by committee votes in recent weeks. A Coney Island application appears to be in trouble after several members of the local advisory panel said they plan to vote against it at the final vote scheduled for Monday afternoon.
Still on the table are Bally’s proposed hotel-casino complex at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx and Metropolitan Park and a sprawling entertainment hub Mets owner Steve Cohen wants to build by Citi Field in Queens. Their committee votes are set for Monday and Tuesday morning on those plans, respectively.
The state is expected to make its final decisions by Dec. 1 and issue any licenses by Dec. 31.
