Bally’s Bronx Moves Forward, The Coney Sees Hopes Dashed in Monday CAC Votes

^{A rendering of the $4 billion proposed Bally’s Bronx casino in Ferry Point Park, which advanced Monday after winning 5-1 approval from its Community Advisory Committee. (Photo: courtesy of Bally's)}

Two of the remaining contenders for a downstate casino license in New York faced their community advisory committee (CAC) votes on Monday, with Bally’s Bronx getting the green light while The Coney was rejected.

Bally’s secured approval with a 5-1 vote on Monday morning, with the proposal to build a casino at a former Trump Links golf course at Ferry Point Park.

Marmorato Provides Lone Dissenting Vote on Bally’s Bid

Each casino needs a two-thirds affirmative vote from its respective CAC in order to get consideration from the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) later this year. 

The lone dissenting vote against the Bally’s proposal came from Danielle Volpe, appointed by City Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato. She had previously helped the City Council block a necessary land use change that was required for the Bronx casino to be built. But Mayor Eric Adams vetoed that decision, allowing the bid to continue through the CAC process.

“The Bronx needs meaningful economic development, but it should not come at the cost of exploiting our community and our borough,” Volpe said during the CAC meeting. “What is being offered to us through this casino proposal is not worth the burden it would place on the Bronx.”

The $4 billion resort has also sparked controversy due to an incentive that was part of the 2023 deal that transferred the lease of Ferry Point Park over to the casino operator. If Bally's completes the casino successfully, it will result in the Trump Organization receiving an extra payment of $115 million as part of the agreement.

In the end, however, those supporting the casino came out on top with a vote to spare. Supporters focused on the community investments and economic impact promised by the casino developers.

“We are grateful to the Community Advisory Committee, our local elected officials, small business leaders, unions and the many Bronx residents who shared their feedback throughout this process,” Bally’s said in a statement. “The affirmative vote is a clear signal that we’ve been able to address key community concerns and build real momentum together.”

Community Opposition Sinks Coney Island Casino

In the second vote of the day, The Coney failed to get the required CAC endorsement, losing by a 4-2 margin. Local sentiment had been strongly against building a casino in Coney Island, as it is a traditionally family-friendly vacation spot. Only the committee members appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams voted in favor of letting the bid move forward, as they have in every CAC decision thus far.

“We’ve heard so much feedback from community members, and it was overwhelmingly, people just didn’t want it," City Councilman Justin Brannan, said in a Friday interview with Mornings on 1. “Sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and this is one of those situations where it just doesn’t make sense.”

Monday’s votes mean that four projects have now received the necessary votes to progress to the GFLB for further consideration. Along with Bally’s Bronx and Metropolitan Park, that also includes two racinos: the MGM-operated Empire City at Yonkers Raceway, as well as Genting’s Resorts World New York City in Queens.

The Metropolitan Park proposal from New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International received its CAC vote on Tuesday and passed with a unanimous 6-0 vote. That decision sets up a showdown in which there are only three licenses available for four remaining proposals.

With the racinos considered likely to earn licenses, that would pit Metropolitan Park against Bally’s Bronx for the final slot. Metropolitan Park, which would be located adjacent to Citi Field, has been considered the favorite due to its much stronger community support. But Mayor Adams has seemingly taken a particular interest in the Bally’s proposal, and there’s a chance that the GFLB may have reservations about locating two of the three downstate casinos in Queens.