On April 18th, the New York City Council passed the “Gaming Facility Text Amendment”, changing land zoning regulations to allow for the establishment of casinos.
The City Council approved the “Gaming Facility Text Amendment” proposed jointly by Mayor Adams and City Council leaders last year with a vote of 35 to 15. Currently, the zoning regulations in New York City do not permit the opening of casinos. This amendment allows for the opening of casinos in commercial and manufacturing zones.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams stated that this amendment resolves the contradiction of zoning regulations not permitting the opening of casinos and also gives communities decision-making power in the process of obtaining casino licenses approved by the state government.
New York State is set to issue three casino licenses in the downstate region as early as next year. There are multiple operators competing for these licenses, but due to the original zoning regulations in New York City prohibiting the opening of casinos, operators vying to open a casino in the city were at a disadvantage. Hence, the “Gaming Facility Text Amendment” was passed. Democratic City Council member Justin Brannan, representing Brooklyn, pointed out that this amendment creates a “fair competitive environment” for operators like Thor Equities, who are interested in opening a casino in his district of Coney Island, and others in different areas.
According to the amendment, operators wishing to open a casino in New York City must submit an application for a casino license to the New York State Gaming Commission by June 30, 2025. They will need approval from the local Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and a recommendation from the Gaming Facility Location Board to receive one of the three casino licenses issued by the Gaming Commission to operate in New York City. The amendment also stipulates that casino locations are restricted to high-density commercial and manufacturing zones.
However, the amendment faced opposition from 15 City Council members, including conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats. Some of the opposing council members believe that the amendment deprives local communities of a voice in establishing casinos. While setting up a casino requires approval from the Community Advisory Committee, the committee is comprised of six members appointed by the governor, mayor, and local elected officials, without representation from Community Boards. Additionally, some council members argue that casinos will cause harm to surrounding areas and are therefore against the amendment.
Responsibility Editor: Chen Wenyi