After much hype and anticipation, New Yorkers got their first glimpse of a proposed new casino directly on the Hudson Yards grounds. The driving force behind the proposed Hudson Yards Casino comes from Related Companies, the same group behind previous development projects at Hudson Yards.
Related Companies formally submitted their plans to New York’s Department of City Planning to build three (3) new cutting-edge skyscrapers near the Hudson River. The idea is to build a casino directly among the skyscrapers, which would need at least five acres of public land. Assuming New York’s Department of City Planning approves the build, Related Companies must apply for a gambling license.
But the competition for one of New York’s three remaining gambling licenses is fierce. Related is one of a nearly dozen developers looking to build and secure a gambling license. Besides the Hudson Yards, other locations floated out for a new casino include Times Square, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Related Companies is arguing that the new casino would be great for job creation, not to mention featuring a school that can accommodate well over 700 people, along with apartments and office rentals. But there was fierce backlash and criticism over the $12 billion project.
Perhaps the most vocal critic was State Senator Liz Krueger, a vocal opponent of organized gambling in The Empire State. Besides Krueger’s objections, many who attended the public meeting overwhelmingly disapproved of the plan.
The main point of contention for adding a Vegas-style casino is the chance of negatively affecting property values. Also, many in the meeting, including Vicki Been of New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board, also voiced concerns about the potential of rising crime, the prospect of worse gambling addiction, and other negative impacts on daily New York life.
But despite the public opposition, including State Senator Krueger, New York Mayor Eric Adams, and Governor Kathy Hochul, they are passionate about adding up to three new casinos in the New York Metropolitan area. In the 2022 budget, Governor Hochul made room for the potential of three new gambling licenses in the heart of New York City.
If the measure ultimately passes, it will undoubtedly increase the calls for legal New York online casinos. In January of this year, State Senator Joseph Addabbo proposed an official bill, S8185. to sanction online gambling in The Empire State. The measure also includes the state lottery and is an improvement of a similar measure in 2022. If New York online gambling is approved, iGaming operators must pay 30.5 in taxes and play no less than $2 million to apply for a license.
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