The upcoming bidding process for downstate New York retail casino licenses is top-of-mind for many gambling industry insiders, and New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Chairman Brian O’Dwyer has concerns about two possible applicants. O’Dwyer told attendees at a NYSGC meeting that he’s keeping a close eye on allegations involving Resorts World Las Vegas and Wynn Resorts’ activities in Nevada.
Speaking at the meeting on Sept. 23, O’Dwyer said:
As many are aware, the last step in awarding the licenses of the three potential casinos in New York lays not with … the location board but with us. And I can assure all our stakeholders that this commission will conduct a thorough review of all candidates forwarded to us … by the site selection committee. In doing so, we will review all relevant data as to whether a potential licensee possesses the qualifications to hold a casino license. And we will thoroughly review all relevant material — including, of course, the allegations lodged against Wynn and Resorts World.
On the current timeline, the commission is slated to receive licensee recommendations from the board it appointed, the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (NYSGFLB), on Dec. 1, 2025. Then, commissioners are expected to make their decisions by Dec. 31, 2025. However, the process could extend into March 2026 if there are permitted delays.
The board published that timeline on June 27, which was a few days after the last commission meeting.
So, on Sept. 23, O’Dwyer said his statements reflected “many of the activities that I’ve done on behalf of the commission and concerns” he’s had since the June 24 meeting.
O’Dwyer said:
Of particular concern to me are that two of our … potential bidders for a new casino license have been cited in Las Vegas for various violations of the law.
The wording of “potential bidders” relates to the fact that license applications are due to the board on June 27, 2025. Before that, there are no official applicants.
Relatedly, state Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., D-Woodhaven, told Bonus on Aug. 29 that he’s been fielding questions about why the process is moving so slowly. Others in the city now rocked by Mayor Eric Adams‘ indictment asked him if the process might be tainted.
So, Addabbo said, in 2025, he’ll introduce another bill to accelerate the licensing process. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul didn’t sign into law the 2024 bill Addabbo sponsored that passed both chambers of the New York State Legislature.
One of the possible license applicants, Resorts World New York City, is in Addabbo’s district. Bonus requested comment from the casino’s owner, Genting Group, but received no response on Sept. 25.
Meanwhile, on Sept. 25, a Wynn Resorts (Wynn Resorts 105,45 +2,30%) spokesman declined to comment for Bonus on O’Dwyer’s statements.
New York Commission Watching Wynn, Resorts World
O’Dwyer said he’s aware what’s happening with Wynn and Resorts World is about 2,500 miles away from New York.
However, he’s concerned about what he’s seeing in Las Vegas.
O’Dwyer said:
These allegations are serious. But I must emphasize that in one instance, the complaint is still pending. And in the other, the US Department of Justice settled the matter without filing criminal charges.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of this commission to assure that our licenses exhibit the utmost integrity and have established robust procedures with their employees to assure strict compliance with our laws and regulations.
Situation: Resorts World Las Vegas
For New Yorkers, Resorts World NYC is in their backyards. The Queens gaming facility proposes expanding if it receives the full casino license. The proposal is for a $5 billion investment to create “a Las Vegas-style casino in New York.”
Another entity that probably comes to mind for Empire Staters is Resorts Casino Hotel in nearby Atlantic City. However, that’s a Mohegan Property that’s unrelated to Resorts World.
Meanwhile, O’Dwyer is watching what’s happening at Genting-owned Resorts World Las Vegas.
Coincidentally, in its Aug. 29 announcement about its Q2 2024 revenue, Genting said it was “committed to strengthening its competitive position and will continue to closely monitor developments related to the New York Gaming Facility Board’s Request for Application for up to three commercial casinos in New York State.”
That same Genting document said Resorts World Las Vegas received a “regulatory complaint” from the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and “requests for information” from the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California “relating to its anti-money laundering policies and procedures.”
Genting’s announcement emphasized that the NGCB hasn’t specified “penalties or other sanctions it is seeking” and the US Attorney’s Office hasn’t filed any “charges or claims.”
O’Dwyer said:
In August, the Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a 12-count complaint against … Resorts World Las Vegas for allegedly violating the anti-laundering law by allowing illegal book bookmakers to gamble in the millions of dollars. These allegations … are particularly disturbing in that it alleges a culture of non-compliance in that information on illegal or suspicious activity was either negligently or worse willfully disregarded to promote financial gain.
Related Article: Resorts World Execs Courted Dirty Money, Alleges NGCB Complaint
Situation: Wynn Las Vegas
In 2014, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) began investigating some transactions at Wynn Las Vegas.
Howard Stutz reported on Sept. 6 for The Nevada Independent that Wynn Resorts reached a “non-prosecution agreement” with the DOJ to resolve the investigation into the transcations “that were related to foreign customers facilitated by now former employees of the Strip resort.”
O’Dwyer said:
Another of our potential licensees, Wynn Resorts through its subsidiary Wynn Las Vegas, entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Justice; wherein, it forfeited $130 million relating to an investigation of Wynn, which revealed that Wynn was involved with an unlicensed money agent using foreign bank accounts to funnel money to China and other countries to patrons who were ineligible to access cash in the United States.
Wynn proposes a $12 billion casino resort in Hudson Yards.
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