In 2025, the competition for three casino licences in downstate New York prominently featured in the local political landscape, as highlighted by a recent lobbying report. Released on Sunday by the New York City Office of the City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau, the report identifies Bally’s Bronx, Resorts World NYC, and Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park as leading lobbying spenders in the city for the second consecutive year. These companies emerged as the top contenders, each finishing among the top ten in terms of lobbying expenditure, underscoring the intense effort to secure a foothold in one of the most lucrative gambling markets in the United States.
The financial outlay for lobbying by these entities was significant. Queens Future, LLC, associated with Metropolitan Park, topped the casino sector with $1.68 million, making them the second-highest spender citywide. Genting New York LLC, which operates Resorts World, followed closely with $1.14 million, placing fourth overall. Bally’s Corporation also invested substantially with $830,661, ranking sixth. Despite this, The Coney, another hopeful contender represented by TSG Coney Island Entertainment Holdco, invested $1.4 million, securing the third spot in lobbying expenditures, though ultimately their bid was unsuccessful.
These lobbying efforts follow a pattern established in previous years. In 2024, the same three companies were also the leading spenders, with Metropolitan Park expending $1.35 million, the highest in the city. Genting and Bally’s followed, spending $990,000 and $914,161, respectively. The strategy of leveraging multiple lobbying firms was particularly pronounced with Metropolitan Park, which employed 14 firms in 2024, significantly outpacing its competitors.
The substantial investments in lobbying reflect the high stakes involved in securing casino licences in New York, a market projected by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board to generate significant tax revenues. The board anticipates $7 billion in gaming tax revenues and an additional $5.9 billion from other taxes over a ten-year horizon starting in 2027, which has led to intense competition among bidders.
The path to licensure has not been straightforward, involving complex layers of regulatory and political maneuvering. Metropolitan Park’s proposal, a collaboration including New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, faced legislative challenges, notably from state Senator Jessica Ramos. When Ramos declined to support necessary rezoning legislation, the project overcame this obstacle by securing sponsorship from Senator John Liu. Such political strategies were crucial in advancing this $8 billion project, the most costly among the contenders.
For Bally’s Bronx, political interventions also proved pivotal. The project faced zoning challenges which were mitigated with the assistance of former New York City Mayor Eric Adams. By adjusting approval thresholds and vetoing council rejections, Adams’ support helped keep Bally’s in the race. The financial commitments for Bally’s did not end with lobbying. Besides a $500 million licence fee and a similar amount required for capital investment, Bally’s agreed to a $115 million payment to the Trump Organization upon winning a licence, adding to the complexity of their financial commitment.
These licensing efforts come amid broader strategic initiatives by Bally’s, which is concurrently developing projects in Chicago and Las Vegas and attempting to revitalize Australia’s Star Entertainment.
The intense lobbying and regulatory engagement underscore the competitive nature of the New York casino market and the lengths to which companies will go to secure a position in this potentially lucrative environment. With the licensing now settled, the focus will shift to the implementation phase, with stakeholders keenly observing how these projects will unfold in alignment with regulatory frameworks and community expectations. Continued scrutiny from regulatory bodies is expected as these projects progress towards operational status, with the first casinos anticipated to open in the coming years, bringing new dynamics to New York’s gaming landscape.
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