The bets are in – and now state gaming commissioners will decide who hits the jackpot.
The state Gaming Facility Location Board on Monday will vote to award up three coveted casino licenses for the downstate New York area.
A pool of what was once 11 bidders has dwindled to three – but there’s no guarantee each of the survivors will get licenses because the five-member board doesn’t have to award any.
However, the Hochul administration has 1.5 billion reasons for wanting three winning bids – despite objections raised by anti-casino activists and other critics.
Casino applicants each need to pay $500 million license fees to operate – which would go into the cash-strapped state’s coffers — as well commit to at least $500 million in capital investments on their projects.
Among those looking to cash in is Mets owner Steve Cohen, who wants to open a $8 billion casino complex next to Citi Field in Flushing, Queens. The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park group is also partnering on the project, which would include a music concert hall and other amenities.
Bally’s is pushing a $4 billion plan to open a Bronx casino on a former golf course once owned by President Donald Trump, and Resorts World is planning a $5.5 billion expansion of his existing facility at Queens’ Aqueduct race track that already provides parlor games.
Reps for the Cohen-Hard Rock and Resorts World proposals declined comment Saturday.
However, Bally’s chairman Soo Kim told The Post he believes his chances of scoring a license “looks pretty good.”
“We put our best effort out there,” he said. “I don’t think we have any weak spots.”
Bally’s acquired the golf course at Ferry Point from the Trump Organization in 2023, and it’s now called Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point.
As part of the deal, Bally’s agreed to provide the Trump Organization an additional $115 million — if it wins a casino license.
Kim shot down criticism over Trump potentially profiting off the project.
“Trump gets a fair deal. The Bronx gets a great deal,” he said.
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