New York Casino Next To Citi Field Approved After Years Of Wrangling; Mets Owner Steve Cohen To Run It

An investment group led by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has secured a license from New York state officials to build one of three casinos slated to be the first within city limits.

The bid was approved by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board on Monday after years of wrangling. Two other casino projects in the Bronx also got the OK.

Pending a final review of the developers’ finances by the state’s gaming commission, the three sites will usher in a new era for the city as legalized gambling continues to spread its influence. The wrangling between developers and officials lasted for many years and at one point involved multiple scenarios centering on Times Square in the heart of Manhattan. Broadway theater industry groups and other neighborhood voices weighed in strongly against the Midtown proposals, which ultimately did not gain favor with the city.

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One notable Queens personality also stands to profit from the decision of gaming officials: Donald Trump. In 2023, between his presidential terms, his family real estate business assigned Bally’s a license to operate a golf course in the Bronx next to one of the approved casino sites. That agreement stipulated that the Trump Organization would be paid an additional $115 million if a gaming license was awarded to developers for the land next to the golf course.

https://deadline.com/2025/12/new-york-casino-approved-mets-1236631988/