Yonkers Mayor urges state to fast-track casino licenses as rivals exit the race
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano is calling on New York State officials to expedite full casino licenses for MGM’s Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Genting’s Resorts World in Queens, citing their readiness, proven track record, and strong local support. His renewed push comes in the wake of two high-profile casino bids in the New York City area being withdrawn.
The recent exit of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts from their proposed casino project at Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, coupled with Las Vegas Sands’ decision to abandon its bid near Nassau Coliseum, has thrown New York’s downstate casino licensing process into disarray. For Mayor Spano, these developments underscore the need for the state to act swiftly on existing racinos that are already operational and well-positioned to expand.
“These are shovel-ready projects with community backing and the financial muscle to start delivering economic benefits immediately,” Spano said in a May 20 press release. “The time for action is now — New York can’t afford to wait until December to make decisions that could bring in billions.”
Also read: Wynn Resorts walks away from New York casino licence race
Billions in revenue and thousands of jobs on the line
According to figures shared by the Mayor’s office, awarding Empire City a full gaming license would increase annual revenue to the City of Yonkers by $15 million — jumping from $19 million to $34 million. Over a decade, that translates to $340 million in new funding for the city and an additional $170 million for Westchester County. MGM has also committed to hiring over 2,000 new employees, tripling its current workforce in Yonkers.
Spano noted that MGM Empire City and Resorts World are already among the top-performing regional gaming facilities in the nation. MGM, which acquired Empire City in 2019, has contributed more than $5 billion to New York’s K-12 public schools. Genting, meanwhile, has pledged a $5 billion investment to transform its Queens facility and pay $1 billion in taxes if granted a full license.
“These operators are not speculative bidders — they are proven economic engines,” Spano said. “Let’s put people to work, let’s generate revenue, and let’s start now.”
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Two-track approach
In his statement, Spano proposed that the state immediately approve licenses for MGM and Genting, and postpone the third downstate license decision until later. He warned that delaying all decisions until the end of the year — as currently planned — would risk losing out on urgent tax revenues and economic stimulus, particularly as the state faces looming budget gaps due to declining federal aid.
The state gaming commission has been reviewing multiple proposals for the three downstate casino licenses allowed under the 2013 constitutional amendment that expanded gaming in New York. The process has been slowed by community opposition, regulatory hurdles, and the complexity of evaluating bids from across the metro area.
With two of the major Manhattan contenders now out of the race, Spano sees a clear path for Yonkers and Queens to step in.
“The table is set,” he said. “Let’s stop delaying what’s obvious and start building a stronger future for Yonkers, Queens, and the entire state of New York.”
