NY Mayor Eric Adams Reverses Council Move Blocking Bronx Casino Plan

New York City’s debate over where to place new casinos just took a sharp turn. Mayor Eric Adams has officially vetoed the City Council’s move to block Bally’s plan to build a casino in the Bronx, pushing the controversial proposal back into the running for one of three downstate gaming licenses.

Good to know

• Bally’s Bronx project is still in contention for a downstate license after the mayor’s veto.
• The plan involves a $4 billion private investment at Ferry Point.
• Eight proposals are competing for three licenses expected to be awarded by late 2025.

Bally’s proposal to bring a casino to its Ferry Point golf course in Throggs Neck was nearly knocked out after the City Council rejected a necessary zoning change. That move, led by Bronx Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, followed a tradition called “member deference,” where councilmembers usually support the local representative’s stance on land use decisions.

But Mayor Adams wasn’t on board with the rejection. In a rare move, he issued a veto to reverse the Council’s decision, keeping the Bally’s Bronx bid alive.

In a statement, Adams said, “The City Council’s decision to treat the Bronx differently than other boroughs goes against the publicly stated, in-favor positions of the Bronx borough president and other councilmembers representing working-class neighborhoods across the Bronx.” He added, “By rejecting the land use application for this casino bid while approving three others in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, the City Council is putting its finger on the scale.”

His decision allows the Bronx casino proposal to continue through the state’s selection process. If chosen, the project could bring billions in private investment and thousands of jobs to the borough.

The state Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to award three licenses by the end of 2025. Bally’s is one of eight groups seeking approval.

Tensions Rise Between Mayor and Council

The veto, Adams’ first involving land use, quickly drew criticism from the Council. Spokesperson Mara Davis pointed out that the mayor had not used his veto power on housing projects, only on a casino proposal. “Despite the self-serving claims about housing and land use by Mayor Adams… he has issued the first and only land use veto during his tenure for a casino applicant, not housing,” she said.

Davis also accused the administration of hypocrisy and claimed Adams’ actions lacked credibility, citing past controversies.

Media outlets have asked the mayor’s office about potential conflicts of interest. Campaign attorney Vito Pitta, who also lobbies for Bally’s, and Frank Carone, Adams’ former campaign chairman who has worked for Bally’s chairman, were both linked to the project. So far, City Hall hasn’t addressed those questions publicly.

The final decision now moves to a local siting committee, made up of representatives from the governor, mayor, and local officials. If the committee signs off, the proposal heads to the state board for full licensing review.

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