Poll: Caesars Palace Times Square Opposed by 2/3 of Local Voters

^{Midtown Manhattan’s Times Square, where Caesars and its partners face the challenge of majority opposition from local voters. (Photo: Enrique Shore / Alamy)}

A new poll commissioned by the No Times Square Casino coalition found that 67% of registered voters oppose the Caesars Palace Times Square casino proposal, which is competing for one of three downstate New York casino licenses.

That findings show only a slight shift in public opinion, when a similar poll taken from April 2024 found 71% of voters are against the casino plan. The proposed casino is being developed by Caesars, Roc Nation, and SL Green, 

Poll Precedes Key CAC Vote

Developers have sought to win over local support by pledging community benefits, including promises to fund health clinics and a civil rights museum. Still, only 24% of voters in the survey expressed support for the project, with 9% remaining undecided. Notably, half of respondents said they were “strongly opposed” to the casino being built.

The release of a poll now could be a strategic attempt to influence members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) overseeing the Caesars Palace Times Square bid. The six-member CAC will vote on whether to allow the project to progress no later than Sept. 30. At least four positive votes are necessary for the project to be considered for a license by state gaming officials.

“Just days ahead of the decisive vote on a Times Square casino, the neighborhood’s verdict is clear: this location stinks,” said Broadway League President Jason Laks in a statement. “Residents and workers don’t want the crime, chaos and congestion a casino will bring. The developer’s strategy of buying and gaslighting their way to community support has backfired. We need our local elected officials to stand up for the people who live and work here, and vote this casino down.”

Pollster: Opposition is ‘Broad, Intense, and Deeply Entrenched’

The poll, conducted by Tulchin Research, surveyed 400 registered voters in and around midtown Manhattan between Aug. 28 and Sept. 2, with a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.

One question in the survey asked respondents how voters would feel about a local politician who supports the Times Square casino. The poll found that 64% of voters were less likely to support such a candidate, while only 18% said such a stance would make them more likely to support a candidate.

“In sum, opposition to a Times Square casino is broad, intense, and deeply entrenched,” a memo summarizing the poll results reads. “Voters overwhelmingly reject the proposal, citing fears of more crime, congestion, and a diminished quality of life. These concerns cut across demographics and have remained consistent over time despite the casino sponsors’ efforts to sway public opinion.”

The Caesars Palace Times Square plan is one of eight proposals still vying for the three available downstate casino licenses. It is considered a serious contender for a license, alongside proposals for racinos in Yonkers and Queens, and the Metropolitan Park proposal planned to be next to Citi Field. 

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board will make its final determinations on licensing by Dec. 1, 2025, with the New York State Gaming Commission expecting to award licenses by the end of the year.