The New York Legislature passed a measure meant to speed up the process of applications and approvals of licenses for three downstate casinos.
While lawmakers had hoped to pass a bill to bring casinos to fruition sooner than a plan formerly outlined by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), which had estimated applications wouldn’t be accepted until early 2015 with licenses decided by the end of next year, the state Senate amended the bill to only set hard deadlines in the licensing process—setting deadlines similar to the time periods noted by the NYSGC.
Supporters pointed out that at the least, the bill, SB 9673, prevents an indefinite waiting period before the downstate casinos, all in the New York City metropolitan area, can become reality.
State senators approved SB 9673 on June 7 by a 51-4 vote and the Assembly passed it 51-9. The legislature had been set to adjourn on June 6 but stayed an extra day to vote on the bill.
The bill requires the New York Gaming Facility Location Board make recommendations on selecting downstate casinos by Dec. 31, 2025. The NYSGC would then have 30 days to award up to three licenses, fixing the licensing deadline at Jan. 30. However, an option for two 30-day extensions brings the final possible day for issuance of licenses to March 31, 2026.
Significantly, the bill allows interested developers to apply for casino licenses while still in the process of resolving land use issues. Under the amended bill, applications are due Aug. 31 of this year. Two planned projects—Mets owner Steve Cohen’s bid for Metropolitan Park next to the Mets’ Citi Field ballpark in Queens, and the Bally’s Links project in the Bronx—face zoning issues.
Both of those projects are on parcels currently zoned as parkland, and an act of the state legislature is required to rezone them to allow casinos. In the case of Cohen’s project, after state Sen. Jessica Ramos of Queens refused to submit a bill to change the zoning at the Citi Field site, she introduced a bill that would allow any of several new uses for the parcel of land, but with no casino. Cohen has not yet found a sponsor to submit the bill for Citi Field.
The Bally’s project at the former Trump Links golf course in the Bronx faces the same problem. Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto has said he was “not advocating for any alienation bill,” to change the Bally’s zoning, and neither he nor state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez, who represents the Bronx, has introduced a bill.
Bally’s officials expressed optimism last week that support will build for the casino project.
The bill to set casino approval deadlines is now before Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had not yet signed it as of press time.
Meanwhile, officials of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authorities (MTA) are urging state officials to speed up the casino approval process to generate much-needed revenue for the agency.
“We have to bring the casino deals to fruition—the MTA needs the money,” state Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Co-Chairman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), a co-sponsor of the deadline bill, told the New York Post.
“The governor could open the bidding process right now, and that could help the MTA,” Pretlow said.
