On Tuesday, the chairman of Hard Rock International, Jim Allen revealed the company’s plans to launch a gaming facility in or nearby New York City. The international gaming, entertainment, and hospitality company owned by the Florida-based Seminole Indian Tribe will be submitting an expression of interest to the NYS government before the deadline of December 10, 2021.
Currently, New York State must award up to three casino licenses to operators for the downstate area, which also includes NYC. Given the city’s popularity and economic state is has become a desirable casino location for many gaming operators. However, it remains to be seen when the NYS legislature will start to issue the licenses.
Two Casino Projects?
Mr. Allen broke the news while speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City this week. The chairman explained that Hard Rock has been eyeing such a project ever since the licenses were announced back in 2013. He also added that the company has not given up on its 2015 plan to build a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack outside of NYC.
The chairman says the company is still invested in both projects and it will be happy to operate in both markets if the plans materialize. In order for the company to start work for the casino in the Meadowlands, it needed permission from New Jersey voters. However, in 2016 the plan was rejected, due to casinos being authorized only in Atlantic City.
Additionally, Mr. Allen believes that a casino in New York and New Jersey would be a viable option for the company as the market can allow variety. He says that the market is large enough, as currently out of all seven authorized casino licenses there are only four taken by nontribal casinos.
Last week, the New York State Gaming Commission mentioned the three commercial casino licenses again, as it announced a call for expression of interest in the remaining nontribal licenses. However, Hard Rock will face fierce competition while applying, as other big-name gaming industry players such as Caesars Entertainment, Bally’s, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts have also expressed interest.
Potential Candidates
As already mentions there has been tons of interest in the remaining three commercial casino licenses in downstate New York. One of the candidates is Resorts World Casino New York City, as its management seeks a full-fledged casino license. Queens community groups have also expressed their support for the property to be granted a license, as it would expand its operations, and new and vital job positions for locals.
A coalition of New York labor unions known as “A Sure Bet for New York’s Future”, has also given its vote on who should grab a license and its choice is Empire City Casino. According to the coalition, transforming the property into a fully-fledged casino would have a beneficial impact on the local economy as it would provide more work and additional revenue to the state.
Source: Parry, Wayne “Hard Rock considering two NYC-area casinos 8 miles apart”, AP News, October 27, 2021
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