Is It Possible That A Casino Will Open In The South Bronx?

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Published on June 21, 2022, 4:49 pm
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New York will soon get three full-service casinos, and one of those could locate in the South Bronx, one of the poorest neighborhoods in downstate New York.

Amanda Septimo, a New York State Assembly member, stated that she did not want her area to be disregarded for a project of this magnitude again, as it has been in the past. She went on to say that establishing a casino in the South Bronx would result in “significant economic development” in the area. And if you are interested in continuing in the world of sports betting, learn more about US casino sites by experts at OLBG.

Is It Possible That A Casino Will Open In The South Bronx?

“The South Bronx is a place that gets left out of a lot of economic development thinking and conversation about meaningful economic development. We want to make sure the South Bronx is in the conversation,” Septimo said. 

For the downstate area, three full casino licenses are on the table. Downstate, video gaming is already permitted on three sites. Those are the locations: Empire City in Yonkers, Resorts World in Ozone Park, Queens, and Jake’s 58 in Islandia, Long Island. 

“Ultimately, the casino will be built somewhere. If there are going to be good jobs, economic development, and positive transportation infrastructure that comes with it, then I want to see that come to the South Bronx,” Septimo said. 

Septimo is talking with other political authorities and intends to have a town hall meeting in May. This is the beginning of a long process. The downstate casinos were supposed to open in 2023, according to the rules agreed by voters when they approved casino gambling in 2013.

Wеlсоmе 2 Thе Вrоnx writer Еd Gаrсiа Соndе discusses concerns in his home area. He conducted a poll and discovered that the majority of people were opposed to the proposal.

“They do not feel that the community will benefit from this. Some of the lowest income communities in New York City will be going to this casino in their backyard using what little income they have,” he said. 

What Happens If The Casino Is Opened?

It is also worth noting that this isn’t being imposed on the community without the input of local citizens and stakeholders. Assemblywoman Septimo has made it plain that the community needs to be a part of this conversation about what they want to see happen and how it should look in terms of benefits to Hunts Point residents who a casino will directly impact if it is allowed.

One thing is sure: if this plan gains traction and becomes a reality, the waterfront must be accessible to citizens who have been blocked off from the area for decades owing to industry.

If a waterfront location is identified, it must be stipulated in any agreement with the operator and developer that a public waterfront park and esplanade be included.

Septimo’s desire for the South Bronx to be considered a possible location for one of the three new casinos speaks loudly about the casinos’ relevance to the neighborhoods in which they will operate.

Gaming is currently permitted in three locations in downstate New York: Resorts World in Ozone Park, Empire City in Yonkers, and Jake’s 58 on Long Island. These are not, however, full-fledged casinos. They solely function like slot machines.

Three full-service casinos with slot machines and table games will be allowed to open in downstate New York thanks to three new casino licenses given next year.

A Casino Implies More Jobs And Better Infrastructure

And, as State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo put it, whichever area receives these casinos will undoubtedly profit from “substantial economic development.” They were all aware, Septimo continued, that the casinos had to be established somewhere. On the other hand, she would like to see a full-service casino come to the South Bronx since it would entail further development of transportation infrastructure and decent jobs.

As a result, Septimo is racing against the clock to meet with key officials and casino executives to strike an agreement. She stated that the first step in the procedure would be a meeting with elected representatives.

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Jonas Bronck is the pseudonym under which we publish and manage the content and operations of The Bronx Daily.™ | Bronx.com - the largest daily news publication in the borough of "the" Bronx with over 1.5 million annual readers. Publishing under the alias Jonas Bronck is our humble way of paying tribute to the person, whose name lives on in the name of our beloved borough.