What you should know
- “Casting the Dice” Provides Detailed Analysis of Each Casino Proposal for New York City,Including Opportunities for Economic Development and Job Creation
- Lays Out Both Site-Specific Suggestions and General Recommendations to Make Sure New Yorkers Benefit From a Downstate Casino
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today issued “Casting the Dice: Casinos in New York City,” a comprehensive report analyzing each of the seven casino proposals located within the five boroughs and laying out clear recommendations to make sure that any casino located within New York City benefits both the surrounding community and the entire city with billions of dollars in economic impact, thousands of jobs, and improvements to local neighborhoods. The report examines the financial, economic, and design impacts of each of the casino proposals; additionally, the report lays out seven general recommendations for all parties involved in the casino licensing process to consider as proposals continue to move forward.
“A casino would bring thousands of additional good-paying union jobs and billions of additional dollars in economic development to New York City, which is why our administration has fought for a fair process with as many competitive bids for the city as possible,” said Mayor Adams. “This report will help make sure that any casino within New York City benefits all of the five boroughs and that our city makes the most of this once-in-a-generation chance to open up a casino downstate.”
“From the start, the Adams administration has worked to make this process fair, transparent, and centered on community needs,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This report reflects the careful analysis of our city agencies and provides clear recommendations to guide state decision-makers in the months ahead.”
Given the potential benefits of a casino for New York City — including jobs, tourism, economic development, and additional investment in the surrounding areas — the Adams administration has helped promote a fair process with as many competitive casino bids for the city as possible. Additionally, through the Adams administration’s appointments to Community Advisory Committees (CAC) that evaluate each of the individual applications, the city has been able to advance the public interest and evaluate proposals based on equity and potential benefits to the city while mitigating any potential risks. Today’s report builds on that work.
Following a comprehensive review by several city agencies, Casting the Dice offers a comparative analysis of every application, showcasing the potential jobs and economic impact that each casino could have on New York City.
| Bally’s | Coney | Avenir | Caesars | Freedom | QF | Aqueduct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Jobs, Direct | 6,936 | 6,976 | 11,269 | 7,190 | 17,907 | 16,224 | 7,942 |
| Construction Jobs, Indirect & Induced | 3,297 | 3,316 | 5,356 | 3,417 | 8,511 | 7,711 | 3,775 |
| Permanent Jobs, Direct | 1,547 | 1,617 | 1,822 | 2,017 | 2,736 | 2,559 | 1,765 |
| Construction Economic Impact, Net New (Net Present Value) ($M) | $1,623.4 | $1,627.6 | $2,642.9 | $1.676.6 | $4,193.5 | $3,787.9 | $1,855.4 |
| Operations Economic Impact, Net New (30-Year Net Present Value) ($M) | $7,256.8 | $10,674.1 | $9,884.8 | $9,650.6 | $10,113.3 | $11,525.2 | $7,629.7 |
Casting the Dice includes detailed economic analysis showing the impact of each individual casino proposal for New York City. Source: New York City Mayor’s Office.
Following an acceleration of two CAC votes this week by Manhattan elected officials without thorough debate or analysis, two casino proposals failed to advance through the process. Nevertheless, key recommendations in this report were shared with the respective CACs and applicants ahead of the vote and before publication to ensure they had all the information necessary for a vote. The Adams administration continues to encourage all CACs to utilize the full-time allotted for a comprehensive review of all proposals.
Additionally, in order to make sure that every proposal best serves the surrounding community and the city, the report makes concrete recommendations for the land use, design, and urban planning elements of each individual application.
Finally, the report calls on all parties involved in the licensing process — including applicants, the Gaming Facility Location Board, and the New York State Gaming Commission — to incorporate the following principles into their decision making:
- Consider a revised, regular distribution of gaming revenues to make sure that casinos located in New York City benefit all five boroughs.
- Ensure that community benefit funds have clear, accountable government structures.
- Establish meaningful enforcement mechanisms to ensure that commitments and pledges by license applicants are codified and followed.
- Promote transparency and clear oversight in decision-making throughout the process.
- Invest in initiatives that promote quality of life, treat addiction, and address traffic.
- Prioritize participation by minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
- Create detailed workforce plans to ensure that local communities have access to good-paying jobs and other economic benefits from a casino.
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