by
All of New York City is vying for three casino licenses. The licenses have billion-dollar potential — if the success of New York sports betting is any indication of how the industry could go (top betting apps made over $2 billion in profit in 2024). But get this, most of the fightprior for these licenses might not even be among the casinos, but the communities themselves.
Take Coney Island in Brooklyn, as an example. They are in the running for one of the licenses, but many in the community are trying to stop them in their tracks. Keep reading and we’ll tell you about this back-and-forth battle over the area’s future.
Locals Fight Over Casino
First, let’s talk about the casino project itself. It’s being called The Coney, and it’s backed by Thor Equities, Legends Entertainment, and the Chickasaw Nation. The casino is being pitched for Coney Island’s iconic boardwalk — along Surf Avenue from West 12th to West 15th streets (between the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel) to be exact.
That’s obviously ironic real estate, which costs a pretty penny. The plan calls for $3 billion to be spent to build the 1.3-million-square-foot casino. Though it won’t just be a casino. A 353,000-square-foot gaming space is planned, yes, but also a 500-room hotel, convention center, and retail center. It would also include a 20,000-square-foot food hall for local vendors, over 100,000 square feet of rooftop space, and 1,500 parking spots.
Many locals aren’t buying what the casino is selling. This has been evident for months now, but recently came to a head during a March 19 public hearing held by the city Planning Commission. Locals packed the meeting — some backing the project for its promise of economic growth and jobs, others voicing concerns over crime, congestion, and neighborhood impact. Let’s hit on how both sides see the ambitious project.
Dan Kaplan, a senior partner at FXCollaborative who presented the proposal, stated that the project is “rooted in the history and spirit of Coney Island…. It is the birthplace of the great American amusement park, the original entertainment district.” He also noted that a casino could turn the area “into a vibrant year-round destination.” There’s less seasonality with indoor casinos than an outdoor beach obviously.
Supporters also point out the projected 4,500 union construction jobs and 4,000 permanent positions in hospitality and gaming. “These youngsters and adults alike, they need jobs,” said Derick Latif Scott, who works with “high-risk individuals” in the neighborhood. “And who else is there to do it for them?”
Let’s talk about the opposition now, which outnumbered the supporters at the March meeting — many of which waved negative signs against the project. Marissa Solomon, who lives in the nearby Luna Park Houses, argued that the casino would bring “an incredible increase in traffic noise, pollution and crime” to the neighborhood. That’s one tradeoff for sure.
“You’ll be destroying the entire culture and 150-year history of Coney Island, replacing the one and only Coney Island with just another casino,” Solomon said.
Battle Over Licenses Is Equally Contentious
The Coney Island casino has an uphill battle to convince locals of the project. However, it’s not their only battle. Another big one is against the other 10 competing projects that are expected to submit a bid by the June 2025 deadline. Only three of them will be accepted.
New York law has room for three downstate casinos — brick-and-mortar facilities at commercial locations in and around New York City. The state already has a legal betting market so that’s not the issue. The issue is currently all the casinos are located upstate New York — far away from the affluent city slickers. These three new casinos would access those citizens, plus the millions upon millions that visit the city every month.
Bids are coming from all places — from Times Square to this Brooklyn project. Developers pitched resorts, housing units, and neighborhood improvements in their campaigns for support.
How Other Bids Are Dodging Naysayers
Let’s talk about another bid that initially stirred community controversy, and that’s Bally Corp, who want to set up a casino in the Bronx. To sidestep some of the criticism, Bally’s Corp has offered Bronx residents the chance to invest in the proposal — Bally’s Links at Ferry Point, which is pitching to be located on golf course land once owned by Donald Trump’s company.
Bally’s chairman Soo Kim said locals could own up to 10% of the casino. The minimum investment is $250, and residents could receive financial leverage from the Bally’s Foundation — allowing potentially high returns if the casino performs well. It’s the same investment approach being used at Bally’s Chicago, set to open in 2026.
The $2.5 billion project would add a casino resort to the 17-acre waterfront golf course designed by the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, where the East River meets Long Island Sound. Bally’s has estimated 15,000 construction jobs and more than 3,500 permanent union jobs, starting at $70,000 annually. However, to move forward, the project still needs state lawmakers to approve a casino on the currently designated parkland.
Who gets and who doesn’t get these three licenses is going to be the story to watch from here til the end of summer. For more updates on the process, be sure to check back with us.
Best Betting Sites 