Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioThe first Community Advisory Committee (CAC) public hearing for the Caesars Palace Times Square casino bid turned into a marquee fight, with SL Green, Caesars, and Roc Nation pitching big jobs and community money. At the same time, Broadway representatives and advocates warned of cultural and safety fallout.
SL Green CEO Mark Holliday told the packed room: “We are all in on New York like no other company in this city. And we’re here to stay, because our fate is shared with this city,”
“You have my personal commitment and my team’s commitment that not only will we mitigate any potential impact from our project, but we’re going to implement a plan that will improve traffic flow and decrease congestion.”
Roc Nation framed the bid as a New York-sized give-back.
CEO Desiree Perez said: “Shouldn’t we demand that in the best city in the world. This is the city that runs the world… shouldn’t we demand that every applicant give as much as they can to the community?
“New York City shouldn’t be giving licenses for businesses to benefit from New York City if it’s not giving back to the community.”
Caesars Palace Times Square is one of eight casino bids aiming to secure one of three available licenses in downstate New York. The August 13 event was the first CAC public hearing, at which all applicants had an inaugural meeting to present their vision.
In the Casino’s Corner
Developers: We’ll ‘feed’ the Neighborhood, not Drain it
Caesars CEO Tom Reeg insisted that the Caesars Palace Times Square casino would not cannibalize the activity and attention of the neighborhood, because it would not be able to handle the demand it would create.
Reeg stated: “We can’t do that here… We don’t have the ability to service all of the demand that we create,”
“All of our neighbors get access to 65 million members for free because they’re our partners.”
The team also touted spillover to hotels and restaurants and projected Broadway ticket sales tied to the project.
Holliday noted: “We expect nearly 850,000 Broadway tickets to be purchased annually, generating $125 million in ticket sales.”
Celebrity Endorsement: Fat Joe and Charlamagne tha God Join the Fight
Celebrity backers also joined the push. Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe told the committee the project would bring opportunities to communities that rarely see them.
“Times Square deserves this casino, deserves the jobs. These are not empty promises. The people who are giving back to the community are very, very credible people and care about the community.”
Radio host Charlamagne tha God also came in support of Roc Nation. He also spoke about the recent partnership between Caesars and actor and producer Wendell Pierce to support theaters of color.
Unions: 6,800 Jobs and Citywide Boost
The project received strong support from numerous labor unions, including those in construction and hospitality. One union member put hard numbers on it:
“Awarding this site with a gaming license instantly creates 3,000 new construction union jobs… along with 3,800 permanent union jobs at Caesar’s Palace Times Square.”
Another said people deserve the right to “coexist and thrive in a struggling city.”
“We need this project to create careers and opportunities so that union workers can afford to live in the city they work in and reside. Thousands of jobs are at stake.”
Broadway Pushes Back
Broadway: ‘Existential threat’ and a ‘rigged’ hearing
Jason Laks, President of the Broadway League (one of the project’s biggest opponents), said the bid would cannibalize the theater district.
“This location is the only one that threatens 100,000 jobs… This casino remains an existential threat to Broadway and our entire neighborhood. Please don’t sell out Broadway to the highest bidder.”
Laks also blasted the day’s logistics.
“We become aware that security is not letting opponents of the casino into the hearing today… It’s shameful.”
Bob Hofmann, vice president of the Shubert Organization, the largest owner of Broadway theaters, said that Broadway has spent decades building tourism and making New York famous. Hofmann says a casino doesn’t belong in the area:
“Casinos attract more late-night crowds, more drinking, more crime… A casino will take business away from businesses and cultural institutions that build the neighborhood.”
“Broadway lights are about artistry and storytelling, not about slot machines.”
Advocates Warn of Human Trafficking Risks
Nadia Swanson, director of advocacy and global programs at the Ali Forney Center, warned the casino would be a magnet for predators targeting LGBTQ+ unhoused youth.
“Casinos are known businesses where trafficking and violence occur at high volumes… This casino would cause tremendous harm… We must put youth safety above profit.”
Neighbors: Split Opinions and Strong Words
A resident at the Woodstock Hotel, about 400 feet from the site, split the difference.
“Jury’s out. I think half want the casino. Half don’t want the casino.” He noted residents’ past gambling problems and urged “more community support… not just the token million dollars a year. I think they can afford a lot more.”
One long-time Hell’s Kitchen resident described Broadway as a magnet for ambitious people. Meanwhile, while not opposed to gambling, she said casinos produce “losers” and added:
“If you want to invite a bunch of losers to Times Square that we spent three decades and billions of dollars cleaning up… then, by all means, sign off on this.”
What’s next?
This was the first of at least two law-mandated public hearings. Caesars also held an inaugural meeting on July 23, during which the developers presented the project and pledged a $250 million community benefits package.
Written comments remain open, and the six-member CAC must have a final vote by September 30. For the Caesars Palace Times Square bid to proceed, it must receive approval from at least four members.
If it does, it will advance to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which will review all applications and award the three licenses by the end of the year.
