Manhattan Casino Proposals Rejected by Advisory Committee, No Local Licenses Expected

The last remaining proposal to build a casino in Manhattan, the $11.2 billion Freedom Plaza project near the United Nations headquarters, was rejected by a state-commissioned Community Advisory Committee in a 4-2 vote, with only members appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams supporting it. The plan faced intense neighborhood opposition citing concerns about congestion, public safety, and environmental impacts, despite the developers' last-minute offer to make all the proposed residential units permanently affordable and provide community benefits like a museum and daycare. This rejection follows the earlier dismissal of two other Manhattan casino proposals, including one backed by Jay-Z for Times Square and another for the Far West Side, effectively ending chances for a casino in Manhattan for the foreseeable future. Opposition also looms over a similar casino bid in Coney Island, with four Brooklyn elected officials and their representatives on the advisory board opposing the project, which has yet to be voted on. Meanwhile, two other casino proposals in Queens and the Bronx remain in contention for New York State's three downstate casino licenses. The decisions reflect strong local resistance to casinos in Manhattan neighborhoods despite the potential economic and job benefits highlighted by proponents.