Manhattan Casino Dreams Come to an End as Panel Rejects Final Proposal

Manhattan’s chances to get its first casino have now disappeared after a local advisory group said no to the last remaining offer for the borough. This decision puts a stop to years of talks about whether the city’s business and tourist center might add a Vegas-style resort to what it offers.

Community Group Stops $11 Billion Casino Project Near UN Building

On September 22, the Community Advisory Committee rejected the “Freedom Plaza” project with a 4-2 vote. This $11 billion development was planned for a six-acre area just south of the United Nations. The Soloviev Group and Mohegan, a gaming operator from Connecticut, supported the bid. Even though they made last-minute promises to add over 1,000 affordable homes and pledged to reinvest in the community, the project did not convince the board.

The vote comes after last week’s rejection of two other big-name Manhattan casino plans: one for Times Square backed by Caesars Entertainment and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and another in Hudson Yards by Related Companies and Wynn Resorts. With all three turned down, Manhattan no longer has a shot at up to three downstate casino licenses.

Local politicians pointed to strong community opposition, highlighting worries about traffic jams, public safety, and the quality of life in neighborhoods, reported The New York Times. People living in the area argued that putting a casino so near the UN complex would put too much pressure on infrastructure that is already pushed to its limits during major events like the General Assembly.

Manhattan Out, Casino Race Now in Queens, Bronx, and Yonkers

Michael Hershman, who runs the Soloviev Group, claimed Manhattan needed a resort this big. He said it could bring in visitors and create jobs while meeting what the community wanted. Ray Pineault, who is in charge at Mohegan, felt upset, too. He thought the review did not fully consider the economic and social good their plan offered.

City Hall was not happy about it. Someone speaking for Mayor Eric Adams said turning down all three Manhattan plans meant the borough lost out on billions in investment, new homes, and schools. They called this result a shame.

The failure leaves five proposals still in the running, all outside Manhattan. They include Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International‘s plan to build a casino next to Citi Field in Queens, a Coney Island project that Thor Equities and partners support, Bally’s proposal to use the former Trump golf course in the Bronx, and bids from two existing racinos: Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct in Queens and MGM Empire City in Yonkers.

State regulators plan to give out licenses by December, but local approvals must happen before any bid can move forward. Some proposals, like the Coney Island casino, already face growing political pushback. Casino executives used to think Manhattan was the big prize, but recent voting shows that New York’s gambling growth might happen in the outer parts of the city, if it happens at all.