Wolverhampton, UK - 30th September 2025 - The intense and high-stakes competition for a New York casino license saw a dramatic divergence in fortunes last
Wolverhampton, UK - 30th September 2025 - The intense and high-stakes competition for a New York casino license saw a dramatic divergence in fortunes last night, as a major bid in Brooklyn was defeated while a rival proposal in the Bronx was approved to move forward.
The ambitious Coney Island casino project, a $3.4 billion venture from developer Thor Equities and its partners, was officially rejected by its local Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The decision is a huge blow to hopes of bringing a casino to Brooklyn. Hours earlier, the massive Bally’s Bronx proposal successfully cleared the same hurdle, illustrating the critical importance of local politics in this process.
The “Coney” proposal was ultimately sunk by fierce opposition from local residents, mirroring the fate of the three Manhattan casino bids which were all voted down by their respective CACs earlier this month. The final vote on the Brooklyn casino was 4-2 against the project.
The proposal from Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings, Legends Hospitality, and the Chickasaw Nation included a 500-room hotel and a 92,000-square-foot casino. However, it was not enough to win over a majority of the local committee, which must provide its approval for any bid to be considered by state-level regulators.
In contrast, the Bally’s Bronx proposal received a strong endorsement from its local CAC, passing with a 5-1 vote. A key factor in its success was the company’s commitment to providing €26 million ($27.5m) in annual funding for local community initiatives, a pledge designed to address residents’ concerns and ensure the borough directly benefits from the project.
The $4 billion resort, which would be built on the site of the former Trump Links golf course, is now the second project to successfully navigate the crucial community review process.
With all of Manhattan’s bids and now the high-profile Brooklyn casino proposal eliminated at the local level, the field of contenders for the three lucrative downstate casino licences has narrowed dramatically. The focus of the entire New York City casino race now turns to Queens, where the final CAC vote on a proposal near Citi Field is due today. The state’s Gaming Commission is expected to make its final licensing decisions in December.
The CAC process has sent a clear message to the global gaming industry: in the New York casino license race, securing local community and political support is the first and most critical hurdle, and it has proven to be an exceptionally high bar to clear.
