Published on: December 8, 2025, 01:23h.
Updated on: December 8, 2025, 01:29h.
- SNL offered commentary on the Bally’s Bronx casino
- “Weekend Update” host Michael Che suggests that slot machines are not the only risky part of the Bronx
“Saturday Night Live” took advantage of an opportunity to poke fun at one of the three newly greenlit casino projects in downstate New York.
During Saturday Night Live, “Weekend Update” host Michael Che discussed the allocation of three casino licenses in New York, highlighting the singular project approved for the Bronx amidst two others slated for Queens.
“New York officials have for the first time authorized casinos in the city, including one in the Bronx. Honestly, every trip to the Bronx is a gamble,” Che commented.
“Glad you brought that up,” responded Che’s “SNL” co-host Colin Jost, who hails from Staten Island.
Is the Bronx a Safe Haven?
Che’s remarks reference the Bronx’s notorious reputation concerning crime.
The Bronx, New York City’s northernmost borough, experienced significant challenges with crime, poor housing, and population decline from the late 1960s through the 1990s, marred by gangs and homelessness.
However, improvements have been made in the Bronx since the early 2000s. So, is it still as risky, as Che suggested?
While certain areas like Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Pelham Bay, and Morris Park offer relative safety, the Bronx still holds the reputation as the most perilous of New York City’s five boroughs.
As reported by the New York Police Department, six of the ten neighborhoods with the highest levels of violence are located in the Bronx. Only East Harlem in Manhattan surpasses the violence rate of these Bronx precincts.
In the Hunts Point/Longwood areas of the Bronx, the NYPD records 2,597 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, marking it as one of the highest violent crime rates nationwide.
Bally’s Bronx Casino Development
Che’s commentary pertains to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board’s recommendation for the New York State Gaming Commission to grant Bally’s a casino license for their Bronx site. This recommendation came on December 1, and the state regulator is anticipated to formally approve three gaming permits for downstate New York by year’s end.
Initially considered a long shot, Bally’s Bronx’s chances enhanced significantly after major players like Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, and MGM Resorts withdrew their applications for New York casinos, coupled with four bids being rejected by Community Advisory Committees.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) played a pivotal role in advancing Bally’s proposal at Ferry Point Park by vetoing a City Council decision that denied the land-use application meant for commercial development on city-owned property. Consequently, Bally’s emerged as one of only three qualifying bids eligible for the available casino permits.
Bally’s plans to invest $4 billion on the site of Bally’s Golf Links, which will feature 3,500 slot machines, 250 table games, and a sportsbook. This resort, adjacent to the city-owned golf course, will also include 500 hotel rooms, a 2,000-person event center, parking for nearly 5,000 vehicles, and create 4,000 permanent jobs.
The Trump Organization stands to gain from Bally’s Bronx project. In late 2023, the company sold the golf lease rights to Bally’s for $60 million, with an arrangement that increases the fee by $115 million if Bally’s opens a casino on the site.