Caesars Times Square Casino Plan Wins Support from Wyndham, Others

• Wyndham CEO backs Times Square casino effort
• Sony Hall, The Town Hall also in favor of gaming project

Caesars Entertainment’s plan to bring a casino hotel to Times Square won some marquee endorsements over the past 24 hours with several big names speaking in favor of the project.

At a virtual meeting conducted Wednesday by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts President and CEO Geoff Ballotti spoke glowingly about the Times Square casino pitch, implying it’s the best of the downstate gaming venue pitches.

We believe that this is the only location, having looked at them all, been approached by other partners, where a casino will blend seamlessly into … the identity and the character of a neighborhood that really needs an upgrade,” he said.

Wyndham, which has a points-sharing agreement with Caesars, runs several hotels in the Times Square area. Under the Caesars/Wyndham agreement, Wyndham Rewards can book stays at more than 30 of the casino giant’s domestic properties and Wyndham Rewards Platinum and Diamond members are tier-matched into Caesars Rewards.

The gaming company is working with real estate developer SL Green and Roc Nation, the entertainment agency owned by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, on the Times Square casino plan.

Entertainment Venues Also Back Times Square Casino

The Times Square casino pitch has long faced opposition from some local businesses and theater groups that fear a gaming venue would add to noise and traffic in the already congested area. Those dissenters have also voiced concern that a casino would keep patrons inside at the tables rather than out and about in Times Square where they could spend money on dining and shows.

“By drawing more visitors to the area, I genuinely believe Caesars Palace Times Square will help drive additional commerce, increase ticket sales for live performances, and strengthen the entire ecosystem that supports our city’s world-renowned arts and culture sector,” said Matt Goldman, executive director of The Town Hall, in a statement.

Caesars Palace Times Square and Roc Nation have pledged to sponsor multiple events annually at the two venues. In February 2023, the gaming company said it would expand Caesars Rewards to include some small businesses in New York City so that members can earn and use tier credits at those establishments. For that agreement to materialize, Caesars must win one of the three downstate licenses.

Manhattan Casino Could Be Heavy Lift

The deadline to submit applications for the three New York City-area casino licenses is June 27 and it appears Caesars and SL Green are ready for that. However, some local politicians have speculated that bringing a gaming venue to Manhattan could be difficult.

Caesars and SL Green aren’t the only the entities pushing for a Manhattan license, but when Wynn Resorts dropped out of the competition earlier this month, chatter increased that Manhattan was unlikely to become home to a casino hotel.

It’s possible that when June 27 arrives, the Times Square plan will be one of seven competing for the three permits, down from an original field of 11. Seven would be the number assuming Bally’s can’t get parkland alienation approved in the Bronx and if Las Vegas Sands can’t find a gaming partner to assume its lease on Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.