Bally's Proposed Bronx Casino Advancement Despite NYC Mayor Overturning Council's Approval
Bally's Casino Project in Bronx Back in Play After Mayor's Veto
Following Mayor Eric Adams' veto of the New York City Council's rejection, the $4 billion Bally's casino and hotel resort project in the Bronx is once again eligible to proceed. The veto overturned the Council's July vote (29–9) against rezoning Ferry Point parkland for commercial casino use, returning the proposal into the competitive bidding process for three downstate gaming licenses.
The project, valued at $4 billion, includes a 500,000-square-foot casino with 3,500 gaming machines and 250 table games, a 500-room upscale hotel, and a 2,000-person event center. Bally's has positioned the investment as a transformative economic engine for the Bronx, estimating nearly 9.2 million annual visitors and over $1.2 billion in net economic output per year.
Public opinion appears mixed and somewhat contentious, with the Council’s rejection by a 29-9 vote underscoring significant local resistance, likely due to concerns about the use of parkland and the casino's community impact. However, Mayor Adams’ veto signals strong support from city leadership, emphasizing the project's potential economic benefits and job creation.
Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato is the only elected official in the Bronx publicly opposing the Bally's casino project. Despite her opposition, the project received backing from other elected officials in the Bronx. Councilwoman Marmorato used member deference, a practice where the full council follows the lead of the local representative on land use decisions within their district, to persuade the City Council to reject the Bally's casino proposal.
The local committee, including the mayor, will now vote to either approve or reject the Bally's Bronx project. The City Council has 10 days to respond to the veto, and the project remains in a competitive selection process.
The Mayor's veto statement criticized the City Council's decision to treat the Bronx differently from other boroughs, arguing that such actions unfairly influence the outcome. Adams' statement concluded that this kind of selective approval causes New Yorkers to lose trust in their elected officials.
City Council spokeswoman Mara Davis also stated that the Council will consider its next steps regarding the Bally's casino land-use application. The statement by Mayor Eric Adams, however, has been met with criticism from Davis, who characterized it as having "no credibility" regarding the Bally's casino project.
The Bally's casino project in the Bronx is moving forward to the next stage of the selection process despite the City Council's rejection. The project's future now lies in the hands of the local committee and the state Gaming Facility Location Board, which will decide on the awarding of a license.
[1] New York Post: Bally's casino project in Bronx back in play after Mayor Eric Adams vetoes City Council rejection
[2] The City: Bally's $4 Billion Casino Project in the Bronx is Back in Play After Mayor Eric Adams Vetoes City Council Rejection
[3] Gothamist: Bally's Casino Project in Bronx Back in Play After Mayor Eric Adams Vetoes City Council Rejection
[4] Crain's New York Business: Bally's $4 billion casino project in the Bronx is back in play after Mayor Eric Adams vetoes City Council rejection
[5] NY1: Bally's $4 billion casino project in the Bronx back in play after Mayor Eric Adams vetoes City Council rejection
- The Bally's casino project in the Bronx, worth $4 billion and offering casino-games, is progressing, now that Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed the City Council's rejection, placing it back in the competitive bidding process for casino-and-gambling licenses.
- The re-emergence of the Bally's project in the Bronx, with its anticipated 3,500 gaming machines and 250 table games, signifies a return to casino-culture and contributes to gambling-trends discussions.
- Despite the mixed public opinion and members of the City Council voting against the Bally's project, policy-and-legislation and the politics guiding casino rezoning are back in focus, with the decision now lying in the hands of the local committee.
- The Bally's casino project in the Bronx, if approved, could generate significant economic benefits and job creation, as citizens and general news outlets track its journey through policy-and-legislation, ultimately deciding the future of casino-games in the city.
