Addabbo Says New York Casino Licenses Could Slip Into 2025

The push to award downstate casino licenses in New York City is facing another delay. Senator Joseph Addabbo says the much-anticipated approvals may not arrive until early next year, a few months later than originally planned.

Good to Know

• Up to three full casino licenses are available in New York City, with eight applications submitted.
• Prop bets on individual awards like the Super Bowl MVP remain on hold until lawmakers reconvene.
• The state legislature won’t meet again until January, pushing back any potential decisions.

Addabbo explained that the legislative calendar is the biggest hurdle. With lawmakers not due back in session for another five months, both casino licensing decisions and changes to sports betting rules are stuck waiting for Albany to reconvene. Any updates would also need approval from Governor Kathy Hochul.

Eight bidders are in the running for as many as three downstate licenses, which would give New York City its first fully operational casinos. Advisory Committees are currently reviewing each proposal, requiring a two-thirds vote to move forward, followed by public hearings before final decisions.

The original plan aimed for announcements by December, but as Addabbo points out, that timeline was never guaranteed. A longer wait now seems unavoidable.

Prop Bets and the Revenue Question

Alongside the casino talks, Addabbo continues to push for the legalization of wagers on individual sports awards—such as the Heisman Trophy, NBA Rookie of the Year, or the Super Bowl MVP. Currently, New Yorkers cross into New Jersey or Connecticut to place these bets.

“My colleagues are sometimes apprehensive, but I mention that New Yorkers are already making these types of prop bets in neighbouring states,” said Addabbo, who represents the 15th State Senate district in Queens.

For the senator, the issue is not just convenience—it’s also about state revenue.

“Also, the governor needs to know that New York is viewed nationally as an expanding U.S. market. We are currently losing $1 billion per year, and we need the revenue.”

Keeping Pace With Other States

The numbers make the case clear. New York brings in $2.6 million in revenue, but Addabbo says the job is far from finished.

“Even though we are doing $2.6 million in revenue, we’re never done. New Jersey does prop bets, we don’t. But New Yorkers are savvy, and they will go back to going out of state for these types of wagers. We can never rest. We have to keep up with other states. There is some thought that the gaming commission can do it unilaterally, but I want to codify it.”

As the legislature prepares for its next session in January, casino operators, sports betting companies, and community groups will all be watching closely. With billions in potential tax dollars at stake, the upcoming year could shape the next phase of New York’s gambling industry.

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