Times Square casino bid rejected by NY officials
State advisory board rejects Roc Nation-backed proposal for 1515 Broadway; a separate West Side bid also fails as the state moves toward up to three licenses this year.
New York’s six-member state community advisory committee on Wednesday rejected the Times Square casino bid backed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty in a 4-2 vote.
The proposal for a casino at 1515 Broadway was among several locations under review as the state looks to award up to three licenses by year’s end. Four committee members voted no: the appointees of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, state Sen. Liz Krueger, Assemblyman Tony Simone and Councilman Erik Bottcher. Appointees of Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams voted yes.
The Broadway League and the No Times Square Casino Coalition opposed the proposal, arguing a casino would damage Broadway’s vitality. Richard Gottfried, Krueger’s appointee, said there were “lots of other places in the city where a casino could thrive.” The bid’s supporters included Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Fat Joe and various construction unions, who framed the project as a path to minority ownership in the entertainment industry.
A separate bid by Larry Silverstein’s Avenir for a West Side casino at 11th Avenue and West 41st Street was also rejected, in a 4-2 vote; only the mayor and governor’s representatives voted aye. Councilman Bottcher noted that while all economic development opportunities deserve consideration, this proposal had not generated the required level of community buy‑in.
Dino Fusco, COO of Silverstein Properties, said the group was disappointed and thanked supporters for their confidence in the project.
If approved, the advisory votes would have moved the proposals to the statewide Gaming Facility Location Board for further review. The Gaming Commission could issue up to three casino licenses by the end of the year based on board recommendations.
Beyond Times Square and the West Side bids, other proposals remain in play, including Genting Resorts World’s plan to offer live table games at Aqueduct in Queens; Mets owner Steve Cohen/Hard Rock’s bid near the ballpark in Queens; Bally’s at Ferry Point in the Bronx; the Coney Island bid; Stefan Soloviev and Mohegan Sun’s Freedom Plaza in Midtown Manhattan; and MGM Resorts’ plan for live table games at Empire City in Yonkers.
