New York has awarded its three coveted downstate casino licenses, ending a process that began in 2013. The New York State Gaming Commission approved all three on December 15, 2025, following a December 1 recommendation by the Gaming Facility Location Board.
The winners:
- Metropolitan Park — a Hard Rock International project backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen, to be built beside Citi Field in Queens. It received a 20-year license, reflecting the size of its financial commitment.
- Resorts World New York City — the existing video-lottery facility in South Ozone Park, Queens, which will expand to more than 4,500 slot machines and over 500 table games under a 15-year license.
- Bally's — a new casino proposed at Ferry Point in the Bronx, also a 15-year license.
What the Licenses Require
Each of the three operators must pay a $500 million licensing fee and commit at least $500 million in capital investment. Resorts World opened the first phase of its expansion — New York City's first legal live-dealer tables — in April 2026, while Metropolitan Park and Bally's are targeting openings around 2030.
The decision is about brick-and-mortar casinos, not online gaming — New York still has no legal online casinos. But the buildout adds three major gaming venues to the downstate market.