By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Friday issued “Casting the Dice: Casinos in New York City,” a report analyzing each of the seven casino proposals located within the five boroughs and laying out recommendations to make sure that any casino located within the five boroughs benefits both the surrounding community and the entire city with billions of dollars in economic impact, thousands of jobs, and improvements to local neighborhoods. The report examines the financial, economic, and design impacts of each of the casino proposals; additionally, the report lays out seven general recommendations for all parties involved in the casino licensing process to consider as proposals continue to move forward.
Following an acceleration of two Community Advisory Committee votes last week by Manhattan elected officials without thorough debate or analysis, two casino proposals failed to advance through the process. Nevertheless, key recommendations in this report were shared with the respective CACs and applicants ahead of the vote and before publication to ensure they had all the information necessary for a vote. The Adams administration has encouraged all CACs to utilize the full-time allotted for a comprehensive review of all proposals.
Additionally, in order to make sure that every proposal best serves the surrounding community and the city, the report makes concrete recommendations for the land use, design, and urban planning elements of each individual application.
Finally, the report calls on all parties involved in the licensing process — including applicants, the Gaming Facility Location Board, and the New York State Gaming Commission — to incorporate the following principles into their decision making:
- Consider a revised, regular distribution of gaming revenues to make sure that casinos located in New York City benefit all five boroughs.
- Ensure that community benefit funds have clear, accountable government structures.
- Establish meaningful enforcement mechanisms to ensure that commitments and pledges by license applicants are codified and followed.
- Promote transparency and clear oversight in decision-making throughout the process.
- Invest in initiatives that promote quality of life, treat addiction, and address traffic.
- Prioritize participation by minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
- Create detailed workforce plans to ensure that local communities have access to good-paying jobs and other economic benefits from a casino.
“A casino would bring thousands of additional good-paying union jobs and billions of additional dollars in economic development to New York City, which is why our administration has fought for a fair process with as many competitive bids for the city as possible,” said Adams. “This report will help make sure that any casino within New York City benefits all of the five boroughs and that our city makes the most of this once-in-a-generation chance to open up a casino downstate.”
“From the start, the Adams administration has worked to make this process fair, transparent, and centered on community needs,” added Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This report reflects the careful analysis of our city agencies and provides clear recommendations to guide state decision-makers in the months ahead.”
