Eight ambitious casino development projects designed by renowned architecture firms including BIG, Gensler, and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) are currently competing for three coveted casino licenses that will be awarded later this year throughout the New York metropolitan area. The proposed developments span across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and nearby Yonkers, with several featuring striking skyscraper designs as part of larger mixed-use complexes.
The competition stems from a 2013 public vote by New Yorkers to expand casino gambling within the city, followed by a 2022 state budget that officially approved three casino licenses to be awarded in the "downstate" region. Currently, two existing "racinos" – Resorts World New York City and MGM Empire – operate in the area, combining horse racing with slot machines. Both facilities are hoping to upgrade to full-fledged casinos if they secure the new licenses.
Several projects represent entirely new ground-up developments, including Freedom Plaza designed by BIG and Metropolitan Park created by SHoP Architects in collaboration with Field Operations. Each proposed development must first gain approval from local committee boards, with a crucial vote scheduled for September 30. Following this initial approval, a shortened list of candidates will advance for further consideration.
The final decision will be made by New York's Gaming Facility Location Board by December 1, 2025. It remains uncertain whether these large-scale developments will proceed if they fail to secure casino licenses, particularly given that local protests have already caused delays for several projects.
Among the Manhattan proposals, Freedom Plaza stands out as a four-tower mixed-use development located near the UN Headquarters campus along the East River. Developed by Soloviev Group, Mohegan, and Banyan Group, the BIG-designed complex features a distinctive spiral-shaped museum positioned in front of two interconnected skyscrapers. The casino floors are planned to be located below-grade and will connect to on-site hotel spaces.
The Avenir, designed by CetraRuddy and led by developer Silverstein Properties, proposes a 785-foot-tall building just north of the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side. The scalloped building's unique feature is its second-floor casino location, which will provide natural light exposure – a departure from traditional underground or windowless casino spaces.
Caesars Palace Times Square, developed by SL Green and backed by Jay-Z's Roc Nation, plans to occupy a pre-existing office building at 1515 Broadway in the heart of Times Square. The KPF-designed project would house multiple gaming floors above a street-level theater, with restaurants, bars, indoor venues, a spa, and hotel occupying the remaining stories.
In the Bronx, Bally's Bronx represents a unique conversion project on a golf course formerly owned by former President Donald Trump. Located at the base of the Whitestone Bridge, the HKS and Gensler-designed facility stretches across a tiered building. Casino-entertainment company Bally's currently owns the golf course and seeks to transform it into a gaming complex while emphasizing protection of the surrounding parkland.
Brooklyn's entry, The Coney, designed by FXCollaborative, encompasses multiple buildings along the famous Coney Island boardwalk. Developer Thor Equities, the Chickasaw Nation, Saratoga Casino Development, and Legends are backing this project, which proposes a casino at the corner of Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue, surrounded by retail spaces and a hotel.
Queens features two competing proposals, including Metropolitan Park by SHoP Architects and Field Operations. This project would be built on a parking lot next to CitiField, home of the MLB team the New York Mets, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, the design pays tribute to the park's World's Fair history and includes a hotel and expansive parkland surrounding the centrally located casino.
The second Queens project involves the expansion of the existing Resorts World New York City, located near JFK Airport. Currently operating as a limited casino with slot machines and thoroughbred horse racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, The Genting Group seeks to expand this "racino" into a comprehensive complex. The expansion, designed by Perkins Eastman (with the original building by JCJ Architects), would add live table games like blackjack and poker, plus hotels, restaurants, and conference centers.
Finally, in Yonkers, the MGM Empire City proposal aims to expand the current Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway. Backed by MGM Resorts and designed by JCJ Architecture, the enhanced gaming complex would add restaurants and a theater to the existing racino, with plans to "entertain the human race for another hundred years" according to the project's promotional materials.
The competition represents billions of dollars in potential investment and thousands of jobs for the New York metropolitan area. As the September 30 deadline approaches, each project faces intense scrutiny from local communities, regulatory bodies, and competing interests, making this one of the most significant commercial development competitions in recent New York history.
