Published on: August 28, 2025, 12:33h.
Updated on: August 27, 2025, 04:01h.
- Three downstate casino licenses in New York are set to be awarded by year-end
- A state representative suggests the proposed timeline may not be met
- Eight contenders are vying for one of the three licenses available
In New York, the timeline for issuing three much-anticipated casino licenses in the downstate area appears to be lagging considerably. Authorized over a decade ago, the legal framework for these licenses was established for New York City’s five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester County. With the conclusion of a 10-year hiatus on licensing, it now seems likely that additional delays may occur.
Under New York’s gaming legislation from 2013, four casinos were authorized for Upstate New York alongside three for downstate. This initiative aimed to grant the Upstate region a 10-year exclusivity for commercial slots and live dealer games, intending to boost local economic growth and generate interest in the casino licenses.
With the expiration of the moratorium in February 2023, the focus has shifted to the downstate gaming market. Major casino operators worldwide have expressed interest in bidding, yet over two years later, the licenses remain unallocated.
License Delays Expected
State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who has been a long-time advocate for the gaming industry in New York and voted in favor of the 2013 legislation, chairs the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering. He has been pushing to expedite the downstate casino licensing process in light of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s financial needs.
Despite his push for swift issuance of the casino licenses, Addabbo recently indicated that the New York Gaming Facility Location Board might miss its unofficial deadline of December 1, 2025, for announcing the license recipients. The total awarding of the licenses is expected to be completed by December 31, once the winning bidders pay a $500 million fee to the state.
Before the five-member board, which currently has one vacancy, can finalize which applicants receive licenses, each must garner two-thirds support from their respective Community Advisory Committees (CACs). Each of the eight CACs is required to vote on its casino proposal by September 30.
The eight contenders for the licenses include The Avenir (11th Ave & 41st St., Manhattan), Bally’s Bronx (Ferry Point, Bronx), Caesars Palace Times Square (1515 Broadway, Manhattan), The Coney (Coney Island, Brooklyn), Freedom Plaza (686 1st Ave., Manhattan), MGM Empire City (Empire City Casino, Yonkers), Metropolitan Park (Willets Point, Queens), and Resorts World New York City (Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens).
Timeline for State Decisions
The website of the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board was recently revamped to include the eight bids. The site states that the “Board anticipates making decisions by December 1, 2025, followed by Commission licensure by December 31, 2025.”
However, these timelines are not legally binding, suggesting that delays could still occur. The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board established these dates during its meeting on June 27, 2024.