NEW YORK | Casino Development| FT| FLOORS

[NYguy]

We already have the Aqueduct “racino”, and numerous casinos upstate. The 3 remaining casino licenses will be downstate in New York City and region.



https://casinobeats.com/2021/10/21/n...ssues-rfi/?amp

New York to potentially add three casinos as regulator issues RFI


October 21, 2021

The New York Gaming Commission has issued a request for information that is charged with gauging interest from operator’s in developing and/or operating one of three casinos in the city region.

This is intended to inform the Commission for the purposes of determining the appropriate size and scope of development, value of the gaming facility license, and process that should be used in award consideration.

Under state law, the regulator can pursue the development of three downstate casinos in New York after a prior policy of former Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed the addition of upstate gaming venues in a bid to create jobs, as well as reduce unemployment in disadvantaged areas.

A deadline for submission of questions is set at November 10, 2021, and final submissions must be in by December 10, 2021. The Commission is obligated to prepare and distribute a report with the results of the RFI to the governor and the state legislature no later than six months after receiving such information.

“The Commission is seeking information to develop a better understanding of interest in the unawarded commercial casino licenses and, if there is interest, what factors should be considered by the state in the development of a process to award such licenses,” the NYGC RFI reads.

“Accordingly, the Commission is issuing this document to draw input from interested and affected parties.”

https://nypost.com/2021/10/20/gaming...-nyc-area/amp/

Gaming agency seeks bids to open casinos in NYC area


By Carl Campanile and Bernadette Hogan
October 20, 2021

……. Two of the three licenses could go to gaming properties that have already been OK’d to run slot machines in the area: the Genting-owned Resorts World Aqueduct Casino in Queens and the MGM Resorts-owned Empire City Casino in Yonkers.

Malaysian-based Genting recently opened a hotel at Aqueduct and expanding to a full-fledged casino to include card games has always been part of its plans.

The Post previously reported that Bally’s Corp., Wynn Resorts, and Las Vegas Sands are all quietly positioning themselves to compete for a New York City-area casino license.

The casinos could be located anywhere in New York City, Nassau-Suffolk in Long Island and Westchester-Rockland-Putnam counties north of the city.

But there’s strong opposition among Manhattan lawmakers from opening a casino in Midtown or other parts of New York County.

The Post has reported that casino operators were scouting sites including Willets Point in Queens, where new Mets owner Steve Cohen leases the Citi Field ballpark and adjoining parking lots; the Belmont Park development in Long Island, which is already home to the Belmont Park racetrack and a new Islanders hockey arena and Staten Island’s St. George neighborhood — home to the Staten Island Ferry.

A recent study conducted by the New York State Gaming Commission estimated that opening three new downstate casinos — which include the conversions of Aqueduct and Yonkers and opening a new casino in Manhattan — could generate between $420 million and $630 million in revenues per year.

[NYguy]

https://www.casino.org/news/empire-c...o-license/amp/

As Empire City Turns 15, MGM Resorts Reiterates Interest in Full Casino License

October marks the 15th anniversary for the Empire City Casino, and according to a release from MGM Resorts International, the Yonkers, NY facility heralded the occasion by reaching another milestone.

Earlier this month, the video lottery terminal venue at Yonkers Raceway reached the $4 billion mark in funding for New York state education. More than $1.3 billion has been generated in the last five years. That’s despite a six-month closure and several months of reduced operating capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Empire City officials said the Westchester County casino’s economic impact extends beyond its funding for education. It’s the largest private employer in Yonkers, with more than 1,000 workers. More than 70 percent of the workforce lives in Yonkers, nearby Mount Vernon, or the Bronx, the latter the closest New York City borough. The casino has an annual payroll of $80 million and spends more than $30 million each year in purchasing goods and services from local businesses.

….. Empire City said it would add another 2,500 employees if it received one of the three casino resort licenses set aside for the downstate region. It also said the move would lead, directly and indirectly, to more than 10,000 new jobs.

Senior Vice President and General Manager Ed Domingo said in a statement that MGM is “fully committed” to New York.

[NYguy]

https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2...outputType=amp

Hard Rock considering two NYC-area casinos 8 miles apart


Wayne Parry
October 27, 2021

Hard Rock wants to build a casino in or near New York City, even as it moves forward with a plan to build another one in northern New Jersey, about 8 miles away.

Jim Allen, chairperson of the global gambling, entertainment and hospitality company owned by Florida's Seminole Indian tribe, said Tuesday that Hard Rock will submit an expression of interest to New York officials by the Dec. 10 deadline.

New York has three remaining casino licenses to be awarded in the downstate region that includes New York City, which has long been the holy grail for the casino industry, given the region's population and wealth.

Afterward, Allen said in an interview that the company is not abandoning a plan it unveiled in 2015 to build a casino resort at the Meadowlands Racetrack just outside New York City.

“We're interested in both markets, and if God is good enough to allow us to operate in both, we would be happy to do so,” he said.

Hard Rock would need permission from New Jersey voters to build in the Meadowlands. They resoundingly rejected a plan in 2016 that would have authorized casinos outside Atlantic City, the only place in New Jersey they are permitted.

[Hudson11]

I doubt more would be built in Westchester due to Yonkers and Connecticut already having multiple. No way in Rockland because of suburban NIMBYs. Queens/Long Island seems okay. A Staten Island Casino would bring in a lot of economic activity to the forgotten borough, but the development sites are limited - I can only imagine it being on the North Shore near St. George and the Ferry terminal. Maaaybe Manhattan? But casinos like huge floors to fit in as many retail stores and gambling stations as possible. Manhattan is not ideal for such an operation.

I think an ideal place would be Governor's Island. It's already rezoned for hotels.

[NYguy]

Casinos are banned on Governors Island, along with residential development. BTW, I forgot to mention that Govs Island is open year ‘round now. Some of the best news of the year.

Existing sites (like Westchester and Queens) probably have an advantage. They’re already up and running, bringing in a gazillion dollars, and have room for expansion.

If they ever did decide to put one in Manhattan, it should be on the west side, near the Javits. Times Square has way too much going on.

Another logical place would be Coney Island in Brooklyn. It could jumpstart the indoor amusement district, finally realizing the goal of making the area more than seasonal.

[Busy Bee]

Yes to Coney Island, seems like an appropriate fit. Leisure and vice. Not sure why anyone would think Governors Island would be a good spot for a casino, whether they're banned or not. The only possible benefit I could see would be it might push a 1 train extension to Red Hook via Gov Island one step closer to serious consideration.

[NYguy]

https://www.sportico.com/business/fi...234645247/amp/

Mets Owner Steve Cohen in Talks on Sands Casino Near Citi Field


Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams
October 29, 2021

Steve Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets, is in discussions with Las Vegas Sands Corp. about a possible casino next to Citi Field, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.

The talks are preliminary, according to the people, who were granted anonymity because the matter is private. The state is currently in the early stages of exploring casino licenses in the New York City area, and any formal plan would still require a series of regulatory and legislative approvals.

”Steve thinks that Willets Point needs to be addressed long-term—it’s a mess,” said a Mets spokesperson, adding the team’s priority remains on filling open baseball positions. “He has been hearing lots of ideas, and the Mets want to be part of those conversations to ensure the interests of our fans and the local community are well represented.”

A representative for Las Vegas Sands didn’t respond to an email and voice message.

Earlier this month the New York State gaming commission issued a 14-page request for information to gauge interest in three unawarded casino licenses in the lucrative “downstate” region in and around New York City. Considered a precursor to opening a formal bidding process, responses are due Dec. 10.

The Mets own Citi Field, which opened in 2009 adjacent to the site of the old Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. The team has a 99-year lease to the land, which includes lots adjacent to the stadium that are being considered for a potential casino, the people said.

Founded by the late billionaire Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) is one of the country’s largest operators of casinos and resorts, with eight properties and more than 50,000 employees around the world. Its portfolio includes the Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

New York State legalized casino gaming nearly a decade ago, with a license structure that prioritized upstate communities far from New York City. A bidding process awarded four commercial casino licenses, leaving three others for possible future development.

The gaming commission’s request for information regarding those three unawarded licenses cover “downstate” locations—New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, and three counties north of the city (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam).

The New York Post reported earlier this month that casino operators had scouted spots near Citi Field, near Belmont Park in Long Island (home to the racetrack and the New York Islanders’ new arena) and the St. George neighborhood in Staten Island. It mentioned Bally’s Corp., Wynn, Las Vegas Sands and Malaysia-based Genting as groups that might express interest.

[NYguy]

https://acropreneur.com/a-plan-for-a...r-landing-pad/

A plan for a $3 billion casino in New York’s Manhattan includes a massive crypto-trading floor and a flying-car landing pad

A Las Vegas-seasoned asset manager and a gaming giant are eyeing an addition to New York’s famed Manhattan skyline — a multibillion-dollar casino with space for trading cryptocurrencies and a landing pad for flying cars.

UE Resorts International, a subsidiary of Japan-based gaming tech provider Universal Entertainment Corporation, in partnership with Jason Ader, a former Las Vegas Sands board member, expects to submit a pitch for the casino to the local gambling regulator by Friday, according to plans seen by Insider.

Their proposed crypto trading floor should be the biggest in the world, and the project includes an esports arena and a venue for events such as New York Fashion Week, the US Open, and Fleet Week.

“Mirai,” the chosen name for the casino, means “future” in Japanese. The cost estimate for the project is $3 billion or more — though that might change depending on its location, which has not been finalized.

While UE Resorts and Ader prefer the site to be located in Manhattan, local officials have previously opposed the idea of a casino in the area. Other sites being considered are Long Island and neighboring counties, according to Bloomberg.

Ader’s blank-check company, 26 Capital Acquisition Corp, will merge with a Philippines-based casino resort owned by Universal.

UE Resorts plans to eventually list its shares on the Nasdaq. The proposed New York-based casino is expected to be the company’s only development in the US.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-trading-floor

New York City Casino Pitch Includes Cryptocurrency Trading Floor
Ader’s $3 billion plan includes landing pad for flying cars


By Christopher Palmeri
December 7, 2021

Money manager Jason Ader will submit plans on Dec. 10 for a casino in the New York area that features what he said would be the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading floor and a landing pad for flying cars.

Ader, a former casino analyst, said the project will also include an esports arena and space for events such as New York Fashion Week. The project could cost $3 billion or more, depending on the site, which has yet to be determined. Ader said he would prefer the location be in Manhattan.

The New York State Gaming Commission set a Dec. 10 deadline to receive requests for information for what is expected to be three new casino licenses in the southernmost part of the state. They are the last ones authorized as part of a 2013 ballot measure that allowed for seven new nontribal casinos, four of which have already been built upstate.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/...ng-car-2021-12







https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/new...trading-floor/

Pitch for $3bn+ New York City Casino Features Flying Car Landing Pad, Crypto Trading Floor

The chief executive’s New York casino pitch will come via a new business he is forming in partnership with Universal Entertainment Corp., a Japanese gaming machine giant also active in the integrated resort industry and media content business.

As a pitch sweetener, Ader said his new debt-free firm will benefit from Universal’s experience building the multibillion-dollar Okada Manila resort in the Philippines.

While the Okada Manila doesn’t have a flying car landing pad, its pyrotechnic fountain shows and flamboyant futuristic design might indicate Ader’s intentions for New York City.

In October, Hard Rock International chairman Jim Allen also revealed plans to submit an expression of interest for a New York casino license before the December 10 deadline. Among the several major gaming brands also reportedly interested in the three licenses are Bally’s Corporation, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts.

Other interested parties include Genting Group, which owns slot gaming parlors at New York-area horse-racing tracks, and Sands. The latter has, according to Bloomberg, held preliminary talks with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen about raising a casino near Citi Field.

With local legislators against a Manhattan casino, other location options for the pitching brands include Long Island and neighboring counties. A recent study by the NYGC projected that three full casinos entering the downstate region’s market could bring in additional revenue of $420m to $630m per year.

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Casinos are banned on Governors Island, along with residential development. BTW, I forgot to mention that Govs Island is open year ‘round now. Some of the best news of the year.

Not only open year round, but will have seasonal activities to go along with it.

[MAC123]

Any casino development would put in those proposed red light districts wouldn't they? If those ever pan out, I have no idea if they will.

[C.]

Would love to see a casino in Manhattan. Forget the prunes inflecting their values on to others. It will be a major tourist draw and would bring in a ton of revenue for the city and State.

[NYguy]

^ Somewhere around Javits would be good for a Manhattan location.




https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...esort-in-vegas

Hard Rock to Say Goodbye to Mirage’s Volcano, Eyes NYC Casino


ByChristopher Palmeri
December 13, 2021

Hard Rock International Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen said the faux volcano outside of the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be torn down as part of a remodeling of the soon-to-be acquired resort.

Allen also said his company filed a request for information to the New York State Gaming Commission, with an eye toward building a casino in the New York City area. Other operators, including MGM Resorts International and Bally’s Corp. are expected to bid for what will likely be three new licenses.

[Busy Bee]

They should make a casino where the whole thing feels like an illicit underground Chinatown poker den. Matt Damon and Edward Norton could make periodical appearances.

[NYguy]

Lol, you never know. I don’t think the flying car thing is gonna fly but you never know.

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

They should make a casino where the whole thing feels like an illicit underground Chinatown poker den. Matt Damon and Edward Norton could make periodical appearances.

That would be cool. If you Must build a casino, at least make a memorable and interesting one.

[rivernorthlurker]

Originally Posted by NYguy

https://acropreneur.com/a-plan-for-a...r-landing-pad/

A plan for a $3 billion casino in New York’s Manhattan includes a massive crypto-trading floor and a flying-car landing pad









https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-trading-floor

New York City Casino Pitch Includes Cryptocurrency Trading Floor
Ader’s $3 billion plan includes landing pad for flying cars


By Christopher Palmeri
December 7, 2021







https://markets.businessinsider.com/...ng-car-2021-12







https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/new...trading-floor/

Pitch for $3bn+ New York City Casino Features Flying Car Landing Pad, Crypto Trading Floor

This is literally the Jetsons in real life.

Also flying electric cars and copters can alleviate the elevator problem in tall buildings meaning we should now be able to build comfortably over 2000 ft.

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by rivernorthlurker

This is literally the Jetsons in real life.

Also flying electric cars and copters can alleviate the elevator problem in tall buildings meaning we should now be able to build comfortably over 2000 ft.

Nobody, not a corporation or government even has a proven prototype yet (and you'd know if they had because they'd be screaming it from the rooftops how they were first to do it).
And that's not even commenting on the practicality of such a system.
Now that's not to say they're impossible, they aren't, but don't get your hopes up just yet.

[NYguy]

https://www.timesunion.com/news/arti...C-16705067.php

Major Las Vegas players are interested in NYC casinos
Rush Street, which owns Schenectady's Rivers Casino, also wants in


Rick Karlin
Dec. 15, 2021

More than a half-dozen major players in the gaming industry, including the owners of Schenectady’s Rivers Casino, have responded to a request for information about getting one of three licenses to open a New York City casino in the next two years.

Rush Street Gaming, which operates Rivers, was joined by companies such as Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Genting, Bally’s, and Hard Rock Café in responding to the state Gaming Commission’s Request for Information by the Dec. 10 deadline.

Responding to the request, which is not an actual bid for a license, is the first step in what could lead to a bid for a state Gaming Commission license to build one of the three casinos that could go in New York City or surrounding counties after 2023.

Most of the responses are completely redacted beyond the names and contact information. Often a company requests the state redact the information before posting it publicly.

But Rush Street was an exception, and their response amounted to a lengthy sales pitch about why they should be awarded one of the new licenses.

IT
“We are developers of destination casinos and we are proud of how we have transformed local communities,” reads part of their presentation, which talks about the contributions they have made to Schenectady and other cities where they have developed casinos including Chicago, Philadelphia and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Genting, which is an investor in the Resorts World casino in the Catskills and a racino in Queens, was also among the respondents. Their response was blacked out, however.

[NYguy]

https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_...7d995.amp.html

New York receives 30 responses to downstate casino information request

A request for information (RFI) solicitation issued by the New York State Gaming Commission for downstate casino licenses drew 30 responses, including submissions from at least eight casino operators.

The RFI, an informal process that does not include any commitments or license awards, was included in the budget state lawmakers passed in April.

….. The submissions, according to questions the Gaming Commission answered last month from interested submitters, will help inform lawmakers and officials on the ideal size of the casinos, potential for licensing fees and the evaluation process for awarding licenses.

https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/ga...no-action/?amp

Gaming Operators Lining Up to Get in on New York’s Casino Action


By Erik Gibbs
December 17, 2021

As soon as New York acknowledged publicly that it might expand its land-based casino market, several operators jumped. According to The Times Union, Bally’s, Hard Rock, Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts were among the companies that responded to the request for information (RFI) by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) before the deadline of December 10. Genting, MGM Resorts and Rush Street Gaming also responded to the RFI.

….. Rush Street was the only company to not redact its response. According to the Times Union, the operator positioned itself as a strong candidate for a casino license due to its “transformative” work in local communities, not only in Schenectady but also in Philadelphia, Chicago and Niagara Falls.

….. The Water Club, located in Manhattan, responded to the request for details and proposed a small, exclusive casino that does not have any slot machines. There were 30 responses in total. However, most only talked about the potential of casinos and didn’t actually suggest one.

Although the Shinnecock tribe responded to the request, the response was not published. The Shinnecock Nation has been planning for years to build a casino on its territory, Southampton. This would not require a state license, but it could use that leverage to get a better location.

Vornado Realty Trust and Morris Bailey were among those who proposed or considered gambling venues in Manhattan earlier this year. It is not known if any of this group responded to the latest RFI.

The RFI wasn’t limited to just those companies interested in owning a piece of the casino real estate market in New York. Eligible officials and community groups were also permitted to give their input.

That input included some opposition to the idea, as well. The opening of a casino near Citi Field in Flushing, home of the NY Mets, faced strong opposition. That resistance includes an effort by Queens Civic Congress, an influential coalition of 60 neighborhood organizations.

[Kngkyle]

It'll be interesting to watch this unfold and compare it to what is being proposed in Chicago.