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Read Full BioOn October 14, 2025, MGM Resorts International announced it had withdrawn its application to convert its Yonkers facility, Empire City, into a full commercial casino. The announcement removes a major contender in New York’s competition for up to three downstate New York City–area gaming licenses.
In a press release, MGM said:
“Since submitting our application in June, the competitive and economic assumptions underpinning our application have shifted, altering our return expectations on the proposed $2.3 billion investment.”
The company added:
“Today, MGM Resorts made the difficult decision to withdraw its application for a commercial casino license in Yonkers, New York.”
MGM’s withdrawal comes after its proposal had recently cleared a key local hurdle in the licensing process. In late September, the Yonkers Community Advisory Committee (CAC) unanimously voted to advance its plan toward state review.
Background: The Yonkers Proposal
MGM was among the eight initial applicants in June, proposing a $2.3 billion redevelopment of Empire City. The plan included:
- A complete renovation and expansion of existing gaming areas, including a high-limit lounge and a BetMGM Sportsbook.
- The addition of a 5,000-seat entertainment venue and meeting space.
- Three new full-service restaurants plus upgrades to existing dining options.
- A parking structure with solar energy arrays and electric vehicle charging.
- Infrastructure improvements in Yonkers (water lines, roadwork, traffic systems).
In the press release, MGM noted that Empire City has “generated more than $5 billion for New York State education, including $1.6 billion since MGM Resorts assumed ownership in 2019.”
Under MGM’s proposed framework, 20 percent of tax revenues from a new license would benefit local jurisdictions. Yonkers will receive 10 percent. Additionally, Westchester County will receive 5 percent, while Rockland and Putnam counties will each receive the remaining 5 percent.
MGM had estimated that, if granted a full license, it could open the new casino in July 2027. That makes it the second shortest timeline, behind only Resorts World NYC.
Yonkers Mayor Questions MGM’s Reasons
MGM states that its abrupt withdrawal is a result of changing financial and competitive assumptions. Also, shifting regulatory expectations for license terms. It explained:
“The newly defined competitive landscape – with four proposals clustered in a small geographic area – challenges the returns we initially anticipated from this project.”
It added, “Also, our proposal to renovate and expand Empire City Casino was predicated on the receipt of a 30-year commercial casino license, but based on newly issued guidance from the State of New York, we now expect to qualify for only a 15-year license.”
The withdrawal surprised local officials. In a statement issued after the announcement, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, a strong supporter of the bid, called for an independent investigation. He described the decision as “nothing short of a betrayal to the people of Yonkers and Westchester County.”
Spano said that the big winner is Bally’s bid in the Bronx. He continued that “it’s no big secret” that if Bally’s wins, it will pay $115 million to President Donald Trump as part of the purchase deal for the casino site.
The Yonkers mayor said MGM’s decision “doesn’t add up.” He called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to launch an “independent investigation” into the licensing process. He continued, “People need to be assured that there is no linkage between MGM’s decision and the massive financial benefit to Donald Trump.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins shared Spano’s concerns. In a statement, he went further by saying the administration or the president himself could be involved: “I share Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s concern that there appears to be more to this story — potentially political influence or pressure from the Trump Administration, or even the President himself, that forced MGM’s hand to default to Bally’s — a move that could result in a profit of roughly $115 million for Trump.”
Remaining Bidders & Licensing Ambiguity
With MGM out, three proposals remain active:
- Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s “Metropolitan Park” (Queens) — A proposed integrated resort adjacent to Citi Field, including casino, hotel, entertainment, retail, and park amenities. The developers claim that the project will create over 23,000 jobs.
- Resorts World New York City (Queens) — The existing racino operator seeks a $5.5 billion upgrade to full casino status with expanded gaming, hotel, convention, and entertainment amenities. It promises a mid-2026 opening, far earlier than the other bids.
- Bally’s (Bronx) — The proposal involves converting the former Trump Golf Links site into a casino/hospitality complex. Bally’s has sold the project as an economic booster for the Bronx.
One caveat: the state is not required to award all three licenses. That means it’s not guaranteed that the three remaining bids will get a license. New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Chairman Brian O’Dwyer has emphasized that the law does not require the regulator to issue all three licenses.
He stated that the commission will consider only suitable candidates and that “it could be one, two, or three licenses.”
The regulator anticipates awarding the winning licenses by the end of the year.
