The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) is currently conducting closed-door deliberations on three casino license applications in the southern region, with only the Bronx Bally's Hotel, Metropolitan Park, and Resorts World New York remaining as bidders. This five-member committee meets weekly and plans to submit recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission by December 1. Approval is based on four weighted criteria: economic activity and business development (70%), local impact of the site (10%), workforce enhancement (10%), and diversity framework (10%). This decision not only involves billions of dollars in investment but also directly affects the budget revenue expectations of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the landscape of the largest sports betting market in the United States.
Approval Process and Committee Composition
The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) consists of five members with no gaming background, four of whom were appointed this year to ensure neutrality. The committee has been holding closed-door meetings weekly since October, which are open to the public but often have audio and video turned off, with only the beginning and end parts visible. The GFLB must submit license recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) by December 1, which has the final decision authority to issue three licenses, fewer than three, or to issue them in stages. Historically, four were recommended in the northern approval in 2014-15, but initially, only three were issued.
Applicant Analysis and Project Features
The current three bidders are: Bally's Bronx Hotel, Metropolitan Park (including Hard Rock International), and Resorts World New York. Bally's has proposed a $4 billion project, but its high leverage model and the need to pay $115 million in additional terms to the Trump Organization have drawn attention; Resorts World promises the highest license fee ($600 million) and the fastest listing (July 2026), and has already received community approval; Metropolitan Park is supported by Hard Rock International and has a solid financial background with Steve Cohen, but is overall low-key. Each project will be evaluated based on criteria such as economic contribution (70% weight).
External Factors and Potential Impacts
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) budget heavily relies on license revenue, expecting to gain $1.8 billion from 2026 to 2029, and any delays would create a budget shortfall. New York State faces a cumulative budget gap of $34 billion over the next three years, increasing decision-making pressure. Additionally, the litigation battle between the market platform Kalshi and multiple states including New York could affect the regulatory environment, with New York being the largest sports betting market in the United States (total bets nearly $75 billion, tax revenue $3.5 billion), making the approval results and timing highly anticipated.
