With three New York City-area on line casino licenses set to be awarded within the coming months, there are at the very least six main on line casino operators vying for them.
Last March, it was reported that Wynn Resorts, Bally’s Corp., and Las Vegas Sands Corp. had been all positioning themselves to compete for the licenses. Now, Hard Rock International is making it recognized that the Seminole Tribe-owned gaming firm will even be seeking to construct a on line casino within the space.
According to a report from NJ.com, Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen stated that on high of its plans to construct a property close to the Meadowlands Racetrack in northern New Jersey, it additionally hopes to construct a on line casino in New York City.
“We’re interested in both markets, and if God is good enough to allow us to operate in both, we would be happy to do so,” stated Allen.
Initially, Hard Rock was solely working its a number of Florida casinos however has expanded into different components of the nation over the past a number of years. It now owns and operates casinos in Florida, Oklahoma, Iowa, California, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Mississippi, and Atlantic City. It will even open an Illinois location later this month.
To construct a second New Jersey location, voters within the Garden State would want to move a poll initiative that may permit for casinos exterior Atlantic City. The first try in 2016 failed, however it seems that Hard Rock will attempt once more within the coming election cycles.
Regardless, Hard Rock made it clear it is going to be pursuing one of many three out there downstate gaming licenses on the opposite aspect of the Hudson River.
In 2013, New York voters licensed the creation of seven nontribal on line casino licenses. Four had been awarded to the already present upstate casinos and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo put a moratorium on downstate gaming till 2023, however the regulators are starting to maneuver on these licenses in order that properties could be working by then.
Applications for these three remaining licenses are because of the Gaming Commission by Dec. 10. There are already two properties within the downstate space, Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resorts World Aqueduct Casino in Queens, that are licensed for slot machines.
The MGM Resorts and Genting-owned properties might additionally obtain these licenses, which might permit them to develop right into a full-fledged gaming operation. If regulators award two of the licenses to the present properties, just one would stay for Bally’s, Wynn, Las Vegas Sands, and Hard Rock.
However, regulators wish to see simply what number of operators are literally fascinated by buying a license and issued a “request for expressions of interest” from any firm searching for to submit an software by the deadline, which might decide which firms finally find yourself with one.
“The Commission is seeking information to develop a better understanding of interest in the unawarded commercial casino licenses, and if there is interest, what factors should be considered by the State in the development of a process to award such licenses,” the Gaming Commission stated within the RFI.
According to a report from the New York Post, on line casino operators have been taking a look at plenty of land close to Citi Field in Queens, Belmont Park in Long Island, and an space in Staten Island close to the Staten Island Ferry.
Lawmakers representing Manhattan have voiced opposition for any of the state’s new casinos being constructed there.