Zohran Mamdani won big in the New York City mayoral race, making him the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. But while everyone is talking about the politics, the real game right now is playing out somewhere else: who gets to build the new downstate casinos in New York.
The state has been sorting this out for years. Currently, there are only three bids standing: Resorts World in Queens, Bally’s Bronx, and the Citi Field–backed Metropolitan Park project; all three are waiting for final approval. Together, they could bring billions in private investment and reshape the entertainment scene for the city.
But by the time Mamdani steps into City Hall in January 2026, those licenses will probably be decided. He has been open about his mixed feelings towards gambling, but he has also made it clear that it’s a state call, not a mayoral one. Translation: he might have his personal opinions, but the dice are already rolling.
A City Betting Big (On & Off the Map)
Even before the state hands out new licenses, the casino wave is already here. The bigger picture is not just what happens on the ground, but rather, it is about what is happening online.
While New York continues to wait for official decisions, players have already moved the action online. Those seeking thh best online casino for real money will find that many sites rival traditional casino floors, offering thousands of games complete with generous bonuses, easy banking, and fast payouts. They give players the same rush as the tables, all without the need to leave their homes.
Most platforms also let you play, however, whenever you want, be it for real money or just for fun. This kind of flexibility has drawn in more players, proving that the appetite for gaming is already strong, even before new casinos break ground.
And this is exactly why the timing matters. As Mamdani prepares to take office, the casino scene in New York is already expanding both physically and digitally, serving as a great reminder that even as politics shift, the business of gaming keeps moving forward.
The Casino Decisions Are Not City Hall’s to Make
Still, Mamdani will not have much control over how this plays out. When it comes down to it, New York City does not hold the cards here; the state does. The process runs through the Gaming Facility Location Board and the New York State Gaming Commission, with help from local Community Advisory Committees that weigh in before any bid moves forward.
With each committee having six members (one each from the governor, mayor, borough president, city council, and local state legislators), projects need two-thirds approval to even make it to the next round. Once that happens, it is then up to the state board to decide who gets a license.
This means that while the mayor gets a seat at the table, the final decision is not up to him. The most the City Hall can do is weigh in on zoning or community feedback; the rest is entirely out of their hands. Mamdani has already said as much: he’ll stay informed, but he’s not about to wrestle with a process that is clearly state-run.
Who Is Still in the Running & Why It Matters
There are three contenders left in the race, each having cleared community approval this fall. Resorts World Queens, which is backed by unions, wants to expand its site at Aqueduct Racetrack and is seen as the quickest project to get moving. Over at Citi Field, Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park pitch goes bigger than gaming as they promise parks, restaurants, and live venues around the stadium. And up in the Bronx, Bally’s hopes to turn the old Trump Links golf course into a new casino complex, winning a 5–1 community vote.
These projects are seen by analysts as the front-runners, though the state could still trim or change the final list. Whatever the outcome, the timing lands right as Mamdani prepares to take office. And while he will not decide who wins the licenses, he will be stepping into a city that is already being reshaped by them.
At the same time, the same casino brands competing for the bids in New York are also doubling down online, building digital platforms that offer the same thrill from anywhere. For players, it is not an either-or choice anymore; you can have a few rounds from your couch tonight and still plan a night out at Resorts World next year. Different settings, same rush.
What Awaits Mamdani at City Hall
By the time that Mamdani takes office, the casino map will likely be locked in, leaving him to navigate its ripple effects rather than its approvals. Instead, what he will inherit is a city that is about to enter a new gaming era: one that blends tech, real estate, and entertainment in a way that has not been seen before in New York.
And that is the real timing twist. Mamdani’s win happens just as the state finalizes one of the biggest business decisions in years in New York. The licenses will land, shovels will hit the ground, and the city’s next big gamble, which has been years in the making, will be underway before he even takes his seat at City Hall.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
