Bronx Advances Bally’s Casino Bid as Coney Island Plan Rejected in CAC Votes

The New York City casino licensing process continued this week with two votes from the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on September 29, which had sharply different outcomes.

The CAC for Bally’s Bronx casino, to be located at the former Trump Golf Links site, has approved its application to advance. Meanwhile, the CAC for The Coney in Brooklyn voted to reject the project despite several last-minute concessions.

The Bronx: Bally’s Wins Approval

The Bronx CAC voted 5–1 in favor of advancing Bally’s application. Governor, mayoral, state legislative, and borough president appointees all supported the project. Meanwhile, the City Council appointee, who criticized the bid from the start, voted no.

In an attempt to sway the votes, Bally’s offered last-minute amendments. They included raising its commitment to a minimum $15 million annually for a Community Benefits Fund tied to 1% of gross gaming revenue. That was an increase from the previously committed $12.5 million.

Once the casino is operational, developers project the Fund to reach over $32 million each year. Initially, the Fund will focus on Community Board 10 before expanding to the borough-wide level.

Other amendments included:

• Creation of a Community Benefits Fund Board with elected officials’ participation.
• Commitments to Ferry Point Park improvements and green space maintenance.
• Local hiring priorities, workforce development, and environmental resilience initiatives.

Public Hearings Context

The Bronx CAC held two public hearings on August 19 and September 9. At both meetings, testimonies were highly divided. Union representatives and business groups emphasized jobs, tax revenue, and park investment. At the same time, many Community Board 10 members opposed traffic congestion and the potential loss of public parkland.

Supporters framed the project as transformative. Before casting his vote, committee member Alex Porco, appointed by Sen. Nathalia Fernandez, said: “This project would finally mean self-sufficiency for the Bronx, jobs, programs for our kids and seniors… It’s the largest community benefits package of any proposal in the Bronx. Period.”

Mayor Eric Adams’s representative, Paul Phillips, said the administration views casinos as “major economic development initiatives, creating good-paying jobs and delivering benefits to the city, region, and local communities… The Bally’s proposal is an exciting opportunity for the Bronx to share in the benefits of licensed full-scale commercial casinos in the downstate region.”

But dissenting member Danielle Volpe, the Council member Kristy Marmorato’s appointee, argued:

“Our own community board 10 voted overwhelmingly against this plan, making it clear the residents who will be most directly affected do not want this casino… What the Bronx truly needs are better schools, real investments in our community, safe family and green spaces, affordable housing, and opportunities that uplift our residents for generations, not a casino.”

Coney Island: The Coney Fails to Advance

The Coney CAC voted 4–2 against the Brooklyn project, effectively ending the developers’ hopes to advance to the final stage in the licensing process. Support came from the mayor’s office and one community appointee, while state senator, assembly, borough president, and council appointees voted no.

In an attempt to convince the committee, developers submitted 10 amendments days before the vote, including:

• A $100 million Community Investment Fund with $100 shares available only to Coney Island residents.
• Hiring quotas: 30% Coney Island residents, 50% Brooklyn residents, and 95% New York State residents.
• A $10 million ferry pier rehabilitation to expand transit access.
• A $5 million food security fund and $300 million Coney Trust for local investment.
• Redesign of skybridges to reduce size and gaming use.
• Emergency preparedness and resilience commitments, plus wayfinding to direct visitors to local landmarks.

However, it seemed that the CAC members who voted against the project had already made up their minds in advance. They had told a Brooklyn newspaper a week before the final vote that they planned to reject the bid.

Public Hearings Context

The Coney CAC held public hearings on August 26 and September 10. Like the Bronx, the testimony was deeply divided, with The Coney emerging as one of the most polarized bids.

Supporters highlighted jobs, infrastructure upgrades, and the opportunity to boost the community’s economy year-round. Meanwhile, critics argued that the project risks worsening already-strained transit, overwhelming local infrastructure, and increasing crime.

While casting her “no” vote in the September 29 meeting, assembly appointee Marissa Solomon, who previously questioned the developer’s promises, described Coney Island as “an irreplaceable treasure.” She explained: “Coney Island really makes up a part of the soul of New York, and especially for the working people of this city… And with that, I vote no on this application.”

Borough President Antonio Reynoso echoed that sentiment: “I just really feel that if they would have put forth an effort a lot earlier in convincing the community or putting forth a lot of these amendments that maybe the conversation could have been different. But this last-minute effort… made it so that I’m voting nay.”

Mayor Adams’s representative, Alex Summer, argued in favor: “We believe casinos can serve as major economic development initiatives, creating good-paying jobs and delivering benefits to the city, region, and local communities. With that, I vote aye.”

The Larger Picture: Who’s Still in the Race

With these two votes, the downstate casino race has narrowed down:

Advanced:

• Resorts World New York City (Queens) – already operating as a racino, seeking full license.
• MGM Empire City (Yonkers) – also an operating racino.
• Bally’s Bronx – now approved by its CAC.

Rejected:

• The Coney (Brooklyn) – voted down 4–2 by its CAC.
• Manhattan bids (Caesars Times Square, The Avenir, and Freedom Plaza) – all rejected with a 4–2 vote by their CACs earlier in September.

One more CAC vote is scheduled for September 30 regarding the Metropolitan Park project in Queens, a Hard Rock–backed plan tied to Mets owner Steve Cohen. If approved, that will mean four applicants will compete for three licenses.

If Metropolitan Park does not advance, only three applicants will remain to compete for the three licenses. However, while that might sound like a 100% chance, New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer previously said that there could be fewer than three licenses awarded if there are not enough suitable candidates.