Bally’s Denied City Council Vote on Bronx Proposal
The New York City Council May 27 refused to vote on rezoning legislation for the Bronx casino proposal from Bally’s Corp., which could be a huge blow to the project’s chances to secure one of three downstate licenses. Both the council and the state legislature must approve the bill, and the session ends June 12 while the council next meets on June 11.
Bally’s is proposing a casino-resort project at the site of the golf course it owns at Ferry Point, which was purchased from the Trump Organization in 2023. If the project is awarded a license, Bally’s would be obligated to pay an additional $115 million.
Because of this, Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim posited that lawmakers are trying to tank the bid to prevent Trump from benefiting.
“They’re saying, ‘If Bally’s wins, Trump benefits.’ That’s crazy,” Kim told the New York Post. “If we don’t get a vote in the City Council, we can’t advance our bid.”
Legislative sources indicated to the Post that while the non-vote is a setback for Bally’s, the company still has one last chance at the plate in the coming weeks.
Sands Still Searching for Long Island Exit Partner
Despite the fact that Las Vegas Sands has already dropped out of the running for a New York casino license, the company is still actively trying to find a partner to take over its bid at the Nassau Coliseum site as the June 27 application deadline approaches.
“These discussions are still ongoing and the company is hopeful that a deal can still be reached,” Sands attorney Daniel Baker said at a zoning meeting in Hempstead, New York last week, per Newsday. “However, the company also recognizes that there is little time left before applications are due to the state on June 27 and it may not be possible.”
Things are further complicated by the fact that the project’s final environmental impact study estimated that the development would cost as much as $7.6 billion, almost double Sands’ original estimate of $4 billion. Nassau County executives have contended that there has been interest in the project, but few details have emerged.
A separate Newsday report from May 28 revealed that DraftKings was supposedly among the interested parties, but a deal could not be reached. The company is the second-largest sports betting and iGaming operator in the U.S., but has not operated casinos before.
Caesars Times Square Gets Support from Wyndham CEO
A second environmental public comment hearing for the Caesars Palace Times Square proposal hosted by the New York State Gaming Commission on Wednesday was headlined by a notable endorsement of the project.
Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of hospitality giant Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, called in to the hearing to offer praise for the casino proposed at 1515 Broadway. Caesars Entertainment is partnering with SL Green and Roc Nation for the bid, not Wyndham.
However, Caesars and Wyndham allow for rewards points cross-matching, a popular arrangement among gaming and non-gaming hotel operators. As of last year, Wyndham was listed as the largest hotel operator in the U.S. by property count, per CEOWorld magazine.
“We believe that this is the only location, having looked at them all, been approached by other partners, where a casino will blend seamlessly into the identity and character of a neighborhood that really needs an upgrade,” Ballotti said.
He later called the project “the most comprehensive private safety and security investment in the history of Times Square” and said it has Wyndham’s full support.
The second public comment portion for the Caesars project was very different from the first. Last week’s call was dominated by union officials voicing support for the project. This time around, the mix of callers who were opposed versus supportive was about 50-50, perhaps even slightly more opposed.
A large number of local residents called in for the second portion and seemed to be frustrated with how the state’s process is playing out. Multiple callers were irritated that an environmental hearing was being dominated by unions talking about job benefits, instead of there being a focus on the impact to local communities.
Some opponents suggested that the developers could be paying for the support, both publicly and privately. One man alleged that the partners were engaging in schemes like offering free food for petition signatures and paying as much as $20,000 per month for some officials’ support. No such allegations have been verified.
Nevada Gaming Revenue Flat in April, Strip Falls Again
In a month that was dominated by tariff announcements and economic uncertainty, the Nevada gaming industry generated gross gaming revenue of $1.23 billion in April, according to data from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The total was flat year-on-year and the state is now down 1 percent for the fiscal year to date.
The Las Vegas Strip posted GGR of $646.8 million, down just under 3 percent YoY. That represents the third consecutive monthly decline and the eighth in the last nine months. Following a string of record performances post-Covid, the Strip is -3.3 percent so far in FY25.
Baccarat, a primary indicator of Strip performance, was actually up 41 percent YoY to $108.3 million despite the overall market lag. Even with the strong month, the Strip is down 27 percent on the game over the last three months and 15 percent over the last 12.
Downtown Las Vegas ($83.6 million, +1 percent) and the Las Vegas locals market ($164 million, flat) had average months, whereas other ancillary markets like Boulder, North Las Vegas and Mesquite were all up more than 4 percent. Downtown and the locals market are still up 3 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, the best of the major markets.
Reno had a strong month at $64.7 million (+9 percent), which was enough to boost Washoe County into the black despite monthly declines in all other county sites.
The same is true for the fiscal year to date, as the county is flat with Reno being the only positive contributor at +2 percent.
Nevada sportsbooks clocked GGR of $42.5 million, a healthy rebound from a dismal March and a 38 percent increase YoY. Of that, $33.1 million came from mobile betting, up 35 percent from last year. March Madness tanked basketball betting in the state, but the NBA playoffs have been kinder. GGR from basketball betting increased 51 percent to $20.9 million in April.
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas saw total visitor volume of 3.3 million in April, down 5 percent, despite a 14 percent YoY increase in convention attendance.
Total occupancy was down 1 percent for the city overall and was flat on the Strip, which is in line with many executives’ comments downplaying fears during first-quarter earnings calls. Passenger volume at Harry Reid International Airport slipped 3 percent to 4.7 million. Daily auto traffic across all highways was about 140,000, up 5 percent.
Casino at Nittany Mall to Be Named Happy Valley Casino
SC Gaming LLC, the Pennsylvania company formed by casino operator Ira Lupert that was approved to create a Category 4 “mini-casino” in State College, Pennsylvania, announced the official name and logo of the casino: Happy Valley Casino.
The $120 million casino, under construction at a former Macy’s location at the Nittany Mall close to the Penn State University campus, is slated to open in early 2026.
The contemporary logo design reflects the modern vision and spirit of the future casino, while incorporating visual nods to the iconic valleys and mountains of the region.
“We feel that the name and logo pays homage to the rich history, picturesque landscapes and enduring spirit of the Happy Valley community that we are proud to be a part of,” said Eric Pearson, CEO of SC Gaming.
Local State College company Poole Anderson Construction is the general contractor on the project. “The project is off to a great start, and we’re confident that once it is completed we’ll deliver a premier experience focusing on fun, excitement and hospitality,” said Pearson.
Last summer, Lubert parted ways with his original partner in the project, Bally’s Corp., vowing to use his experience in developing Valley Forge Casino Resort in eastern Pennsylvania to complete the project on his own. However, in January, SC Gaming announced it had entered into a framework agreement with Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC to partner on the State College project, subject to regulatory approval by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Happy Valley Casino will include up to 750 slot machines, 30 table games, a full-service restaurant, and a quick-serve dining option. Those are the maximum allowable gaming stations for a mini-casino under state law. After opening, operators may petition the state to add another 10 table games.
Legionnaires’ Cases Under Investigation in Las Vegas
A total of five cases of Legionnaires’ disease from two Las Vegas properties are under investigation by local health officials, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Two came from the South Point casino—one guest visited in February, and the other visited last August, and both have since recovered. The others were from the neighboring Grandview at Las Vegas hotel. Anyone who stayed at the South Point after April 16 and is experiencing symptoms can fill out a health survey from the Southern Nevada Health District.
