Queens and Bronx casino proposals require land conversion

ALBANY — With a deadline for downstate casino applications fast approaching, two likely bidders are trying to clear legal hurdles before applying.

They could get help through state legislation that key lawmakers are advancing. They also could get help via the state budget, according to sources, which officials are trying to settle this month.

At least 11 entities have expressed a desire to bid for one of three available casino licenses. “Substantially” complete bids are supposed to be submitted to a state oversight board by June 27 — the next major milestone in what already has been a yearslong journey. Sands Las Vegas is one of the contenders, proposing a casino at the former Nassau Coliseum site.

Among the competitors, two companies need help legislatively because they are proposing to locate casinos, using parts of land (in Queens and the Bronx) that are legally designated park land. the Bronx site has been a public golf course, once operated by the Trump Organization. The park land involved in the Queens site is a Citi Field parking lot, near the Mets home stadium.

The Queens proposal — headed by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International — has faced some local opposition, but took a major step forward when State Sen. John Liu (D-Queens) recently submitted legislation to allow the land conversion. Liu said the legislation merely allows Cohen to compete for a license, not guaranteeing it will win.

“Cohen and team can’t even submit an application without this bill,” Liu said recently at the State Capitol. “I understand where the park land purists are coming from, but we have to be pragmatic. It’s not really park land — it’s a parking lot and it has been for decades.”

Liu said he’s confident the bill would be approved before the scheduled end of the 2025 state legislative session, June 12. But with the June 27 bid deadline so close, other sources have said it is possible for the legislation to be tucked into a state budget deal expected to be hammered out this month.

“My guess is it gets done in the budget. I know they are trying to get it done,” said one source who was worked on the casino issue.

It’s not unusual for policy issues or controversial proposals to get tucked into a budget agreement. New York political history is littered with examples, such as Nassau County leasing its rights to site video-lottery terminals to the Resorts World casino at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“I’m not planning on that happening, but it wouldn’t be unheard of,” Liu said when asked about the land conversion measure being included in the budget.

The budget was supposed to be in place for April 1, the start of New York’s fiscal year. But Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state Assembly and Senate have blown past the deadline and are looking at acting next week at the earliest.

the Bronx proposal — headed by Bally’s, a major gambling and casino company — also needs a land-conversion bill. Assemb. Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx), the sponsor of such a bill, couldn’t be reached immediately to comment.

the Bronx proposal also will face scrutiny because of its financial ties with President Donald Trump. The Trump Organization sold its interest in the golf course to Bally’s and the “Trump Links” signs were removed in 2024.

But The New York Times has reported Trump will receive an additional $115 million if Bally’s lands one of the casino licenses under terms of the purchase agreement that hadn’t been previously disclosed. When the news broke, a key member of the New York City Council — which would have to approve a “home rule” message before the Bronx bill could go forward in Albany — cast doubt on officials backing actions that could result in such a windfall for Trump.

For all the contenders — Bally’s, Hard Rock, Sands and the rest — June 27 is the deadline for applications. Then, they will have until Sept. 30 to obtain a favorable vote from a local citizens advisory council to allow the bid to be considered by a state casino siting panel, which is expected to select winners in December.