New York City Takes New Approach to Casino Approvals

Article by : Erik Gibbs Oct 11, 2023

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A proposal jointly presented by the City Council and the Adams administration this week could potentially introduce a new zoning process for casinos in New York City.

This development arises as several applicants aspire to obtain one of the three new state casino licenses to establish casinos in the five boroughs.

In a shared statement issued by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Planning Commissioner Dan Garodnick, the city revealed its intention to propose an individualized approach to consider zoning for casinos.

The primary aim is to provide all five boroughs with an equitable opportunity to secure one of the state’s licenses.

This proposal, which will undergo its public approval process, seeks to facilitate the way for city officials to secure a casino license, making it more appealing to the state.

In addition to creating a framework to rezone city land for casino construction, the proposal will involve public participation and input from elected officials regarding developers’ gaming plans.

At present, both Resorts World in South Queens and Mets owner Steve Cohen’s groups are competing for a casino license, with potential issuance by the end of the year.

Casinos offer the promise of generating employment and economic prospects for New Yorkers.

However, prospective applicants in New York City currently encounter a challenge, as the city lacks a designated mechanism within its land use regulations for the comprehensive evaluation of casino locations, as noted by Speaker Adams and Garodnick.

Initially, the Adams administration proposed incorporating the zoning proposal into its “City of YES” zoning text amendment.

However, the City Council chose to introduce a separate amendment, which was presented on Friday, specifically excluding casinos from the tax amendment.

The statement also clarified that the zoning proposal would go through its distinct approval process.

Queens State Senator Joseph Addabbo, the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, and a strong advocate for downstate licenses, sees potential in the city’s proposal. He hopes it will expedite the process of bringing one or more casinos to the city.

Addabbo has long supported the idea of having casinos in the five boroughs, emphasizing the economic benefits they bring. He is concerned that if developers encounter difficulties in gaining approval for a casino within the city’s limits, New York City could miss out on these benefits.

However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the prospect of having casinos in their vicinity. Numerous protests have taken place, primarily in Flushing, against Steve Cohen’s proposal to establish a casino in Citi Field’s parking lot.

Opponents express concerns about potential negative environmental impacts and the exacerbation of gambling addictions in local communities.

Some elected officials, including Senator Jessica Ramos, have also expressed reservations about Cohen’s casino plan and the need for public input before proceeding.

In contrast, Addabbo, who served on the local community board when Resorts World New York City was approved in the 1990s, believes that introducing a casino to the area should not be a cause for alarm.

All local opinions regarding casinos will be taken into consideration during the state’s licensing process once the bids are selected, a practice that Addabbo fully supports.