Bally’s Moves Closer to Casino License with Bronx Approval

Bally’s Corporation has moved one step closer to securing a casino license in New York City. A key zoning vote on Wednesday kept its proposed $4 billion project in the Bronx alive, setting the stage for a possible permit submission before the June 27 deadline.

Good to know

• New York City Council passed the zoning measure 32–12, allowing Bally’s to continue its casino push.
• The project would convert Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point into a hotel-casino resort.
• Bally’s pledged a $625 million benefit package for the local community.

The Council vote approved a “home rule message” tied to the rezoning of the Ferry Point property, a crucial step needed to move a bill through the state legislature. If the measure had failed, Bally’s casino effort in the Bronx would likely have ended on the spot.

Now, Bally’s looks to the statehouse, hoping lawmakers pass a bill to declassify parkland in time to meet the late-June application deadline. The city is expected to approve three total casino licenses by December 1.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams provided support ahead of the vote, which lowered the required number of Council votes from 34 to 26. According to City Hall spokesperson William Fowler, the mayor “supports a fair process with as many competitive casino bids in New York City as possible,” adding that “it does not matter which proposal is selected by the state so long as it’s in New York City.”

Not everyone welcomed the plan. Council member Kristy Marmorato, who represents the Bronx district, voted against the proposal. She said the casino project “was about political favors and special interest power plays.”

Bally’s has already invested $60 million to lease the Ferry Point golf course from former President Donald Trump. If the company wins a license, it will owe another $115 million to proceed with development. The plan includes a 500-room hotel, a 500,000-square-foot casino, and two parking garages. Bally’s also committed to rebuilding the golf course, enhancing local green space, and replacing the parkland lost to the construction.

The proposed Bronx development is just one of several major bids competing for three licenses in New York. Hard Rock International and Steve Cohen are pushing an $8 billion casino plan next to Citi Field in Queens. That bid also recently cleared a key land-use step. Meanwhile, Caesars has teamed up with SL Green and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation for a Times Square proposal.

Some bids have fallen off the map. Wynn Resorts stepped away from its Hudson Yards project last month after facing heavy opposition. Las Vegas Sands also exited its Long Island plans in April, now searching for a partner to keep that effort alive.

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