On the verge of adding three more casinos in the New York City area, The Empire State's current lineup is putting up some big numbers.
In May, New York's commercial casinos experienced a significant boost in revenue, marking it as the second-best month in state's history. They combined to generate approximately $63 million in gross gaming revenue.
This figure represents an impressive 10% increase compared to the previous year, where they recorded $57 million for the same month.
Additionally, it signifies a growth of almost 11% over the preceding month’s $57 million revenue. These statistics were published by the New York State Gaming Commission.
Slot Machines and Table Games Lead Revenue Growth
Slot machines were responsible for the majority of this revenue, generating about $45 million – up nearly 12% from last May's $41 million.
Table games also showed solid growth with revenue up 7% year-over-year, totaling $16 million. Contributions from poker gaming and retail sports wagering were more modest by comparison.
Individual Casino Performance
Among New York's four commercial casinos, every establishment enjoyed a year-over-year revenue boost.
Rivers Casino and Resort took the lead, reporting approximately $20 million, up from $18 million the previous year. This was followed by Resorts World Catskills with earnings of $18 million, a 6% increase.
Del Lago Resort and Casino reported a notable 19% growth with revenues of $15 million, while Tioga Downs saw a 4% rise to about $10 million.
Future Expansion Plans and Timelines
New York is in the midst of expanding its commercial casino footprint by potentially awarding licenses for up to three new casinos in the downstate area. This area includes New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board is managing this process, with a key timeline in place:
- June 27, 2025: Application deadline for potential operators.
- Formation of Community Advisory Committees (CACs): These committees, including local elected officials, will review applications.
- September 30, 2025: Deadline for completing entitlement processes such as zoning, and for CACs to vote on their designated projects.
- December 1, 2025: The board aims to finalize its decisions on awarding licenses.
- December 31, 2025: Licenses are expected to be issued by the New York State Gaming Commission.
This process includes several layers of community involvement to ensure local satisfaction and adherence to necessary entitlement procedures.
Candidates for New Casino Licenses in New York
The list of candidates to land one of three downstate casino licenses in New York include:
- Resorts World at Aqueduct and Empire City Casino: These racinos are in a good position due to their strong presence and existing customer base.
- MGM Resorts International: They plan to enhance Empire City Casino by turning it into MGM Empire City.
- Caesars Entertainment: Partnering with SL Green Realty Corp., they aim to open a casino in Times Square.
- Bally's Interactive: They propose building a casino at the site of the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point.
- Hard Rock International: Partnering with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, they are proposing a casino and entertainment complex near Citi Field, known as Metropolitan Park.
These potential operators are each bringing unique plans and partnerships to the table as they vie for the opportunity to expand New York’s gaming scene.
New York's approach illustrates its commitment to enhancing its casino sector while ensuring that community voices are heard and fiscal responsibilities, like license fee collections, are addressed promptly.
