Published on: October 15, 2025, 07:55h.
Updated on: October 15, 2025, 07:56h.
- Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano seeks clarity following MGM’s exit from the Empire City Casino proposal
- Spano speculates that President Donald Trump may be involved in the decision
MGM Resorts International stunned the US gaming sector on Tuesday evening by abruptly canceling its $2.3 billion initiative to transform the Empire City Casino in Yonkers into a fully operational casino, featuring Las Vegas-style slot machines, live table games, and sports wagering. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano (D) found MGM’s reasoning for withdrawing unsatisfactory.
MGM was previously viewed as the leading candidate for one of the three available downstate casino licenses. Currently, Empire City operates as a video lottery racino offering electronic gaming machines mimicking slot machines.
In 2019, MGM acquired Empire City for $850 million, with many interpreting the purchase as a strategic move to secure a downstate casino license.
Now, MGM has abandoned its pursuit in New York City, despite previously asserting that Empire City couldn’t thrive without a comprehensive gaming license, prompting Spano to demand explanations.
“MGM’s decision is illogical and represents a betrayal for the residents of Yonkers and Westchester County,” Spano stated. “I am urging Governor Kathy Hochul to initiate an independent investigation into this situation, as MGM’s reasons for this abrupt change simply don’t make sense.”
MGM’s Justifications
MGM claimed that pursuing Empire City lost its allure once the bidding was limited to four contenders. The operator of Bellagio pointed to the “clustered” remaining applicants, two of which are located in Queens and another in the Bronx.
The non-MGM bids are more conveniently situated closer to Manhattan than Yonkers. This reasoning appears sound; late-night party-goers in Manhattan are more likely to opt for a nearby cab to Queens rather than embark on a longer journey of over 30 minutes to Empire City.
MGM also pointed to unfavorable tax conditions and anticipated receiving a 15-year gaming license as opposed to a more favorable 30-year option.
Spano believes there are underlying factors at play — potentially involving President Donald Trump.
Trump’s Influence Grows
With MGM’s exit, only three bids remain for the downstate locale, all situated within New York City. These include Resorts World’s $5.5 billion renovation of its VLT racino at the Queens Aqueduct Racetrack, Hard Rock and Steve Cohen’s $8 billion greenfield project adjacent to Citi Field in Queens, and Bally’s Bronx’s $4 billion development at Bally’s Links Golf Links in the Bronx.
In 2023, the Trump Organization sold the lease for the city-owned Bronx golf course to Bally’s Corp. for approximately $60 million. Similar to MGM’s acquisition of Empire City, this sale was perceived as Bally’s official entry into the New York casino race.
The Trump Organization, led by President Donald Trump and currently managed by his sons during his time in Washington, DC, included a stipulation in the 2023 agreement requiring Bally’s to pay an additional $115 million if they secure the rights to build a casino resort on the city-owned parcel in the future.
“It’s plain to see that the real beneficiaries of this reversal will be Bally’s for the casino at the former Trump Links. Additionally, it’s well-known that Bally’s has a financial arrangement with Donald Trump that involves an extra $115 million if they manage to establish a casino there,” Spano remarked.
“The public needs confidence that MGM’s decision is not linked to the substantial financial gain for Donald Trump,” Spano continued. “The community of Yonkers is entitled to transparent answers regarding the integrity of this process.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams played a crucial role in securing the Bally’s Bronx proposal by vetoing a City Council resolution that would have blocked a land-use application for commercial development on the city-owned site. Critics argue that Adams is leveraging his final days in office to bolster his chances of securing a role within the Trump Administration in 2026.
Numerous consultants involved with Bally’s have connections to Trump, notably Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for Middle East Peace Initiatives. Witkoff was the former owner of the unfinished casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip that would eventually be known as the Fontainebleau after selling it to Koch Real Estate Investments in 2021.