New York City’s most high-profile casino bids have officially been shut out of Manhattan.
On Monday, a state-appointed community advisory committee voted 4–2 against the Freedom Plaza project, a proposed $11 billion casino and resort development near the United Nations headquarters in Midtown East. The vote marks the end of Manhattan’s participation in the competition for one of up to three downstate casino licenses being issued by the New York State Gaming Commission.
The project—led by the Soloviev Group and Mohegan, operators of Mohegan Sun in Connecticut—was pitched as a mixed-use development with housing, hotels, public space, and a casino resort. Despite last-minute efforts to gain support, including a pledge to make all 1,000+ proposed residential units permanently affordable, the committee rejected the bid. Members cited concerns over congestion, public safety, and environmental impact, particularly regarding a proposed underground parking structure on the site of a former Con Edison facility.
Local Politics Prove Decisive
The Freedom Plaza vote followed similar rejections of two other Manhattan-based bids: a Caesars Palace casino backed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in Times Square, and a Wynn Resorts project at Hudson Yards. All three proposals were denied by local panels, despite backing from city and state appointees.
Monday’s vote again demonstrated a clear split: representatives appointed by Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul supported the project, while local representatives voted against it. In a statement, Murray Hill residents and advocates—some of whom submitted over 8,000 signatures in opposition—celebrated the outcome. “We have so much to be happy and celebrating about today,” said Sulakshana Jain, a nearby resident who helped organize against the project.
Remaining Bids Face Their Own Hurdles
With Manhattan out of the picture, five proposals remain active:
- Queens: A Hard Rock casino near Citi Field, and the potential full conversion of Resorts World racino at Aqueduct.
- Brooklyn: A proposed casino on the Coney Island boardwalk.
- The Bronx: A Bally’s casino on the former Trump-run Ferry Point golf course.
- Yonkers: An MGM-backed plan to expand Empire City into a full casino.
These projects are competing for up to three full licenses in the New York City region. However, local approval remains a strict requirement. The Coney Island bid, for example, may also be collapsing—three of six board members have already publicly withdrawn support, and others are expected to follow.
What Happens Next?
New York’s down-state casino licensing effort has been in the works for a while, suffering several setbacks along the way. Things will come into clearer focus in the coming weeks.
Local panels have until Sept. 30 to approve or deny proposals. Any bid without local sign-off will not advance to the final round. The state’s Gaming Facility Location Board will make its licensing decisions by December.
Mayor Adams has expressed disappointment at the string of rejections, calling casinos a potential source of “jobs, stability, and tourism.” But for now, local opposition continues to shape the landscape.
The stakes remain high. For developers, a New York casino license represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. For communities, the question is whether the economic upside outweighs long-term concerns about traffic, crime, and livability.
We’ll continue to track the remaining bids as they face final reviews in the weeks ahead.
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