NYC Mayoral Favorite Zohran Mamdani Won’t Stand In Casinos’ Way

Posted on: August 21, 2025, 08:01h. 

Last updated on: August 21, 2025, 09:59h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Mamdani opposes casinos but says he won’t stand in their way
  • Mamdani remains the heavy favorite to become NYC’s next mayor
  • Eight casino bids are vying for three downstate New York licenses

Zohran Mamdani, a socialist New York State lawmaker representing Queens who is the betting front-runner to become New York City’s next mayor, says he won’t stand in the way of casinos coming to the downstate region.

Zohran Mamdani New York City mayor odds
Zohran Mamdani attends a pride parade on 5th Avenue in New York City on June 9, 2025. Mamdani, the likely next mayor of NYC, says he won’t seek to prevent casinos from coming to the five boroughs, something likely out of his power. (Image: Shutterstock)

By the end of the year, the New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to determine which three casino presentations win the coveted gaming concessions that come with privileges for slot machines, live-dealer table games, and sports betting. Eight bids remain, with two in Queens, one in Brooklyn, three in Manhattan, one in the Bronx, and one in Westchester County.

I’ve been open about my personal skepticism, and yet I also know this is the law,” Mamdani said this week about the forthcoming casinos. “The siting and the choices of which casinos will open, that pertains to the state.”

Mamdani only took office in January 2021, meaning he wasn’t part of the state’s liberalization of commercial casinos in 2013. The gaming expansion authorized seven casino properties, with the four upstate licenses provided a 10-year window to operate before the downstate casinos were to be licensed. 

Mayor’s Powers Limited

Mamdani is nearly a sure thing to succeed Mayor Eric Adams. That’s according to most polls and online betting exchanges that allow users to stake money amongst themselves regarding the outcome of the November 2 NYC mayoral election.

The polling average compiled by Real Clear Politics suggests Mamdani has a 15-point lead on former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his nearest competitor. Adams is commanding just 11% of the likely electorate.

On prediction market Kalshi, bettors give Mamdani an 83% of becoming the next mayor of New York City. On PredictIt, a similar betting website, Mamdani’s victory chances are at implied odds of 84%.

While Mamdani is expected to become mayor of NYC, his ability to stop casinos from coming to the region is limited. Though a representative of the mayor’s office sits on seven of the eight Community Advisory Committees (CAC) and will cast one of the six votes among each to determine if the bid moves forward, those votes will occur before Mamdani takes office.

The Gaming Facility Location Board will only consider casino applicants that are approved by a two-thirds majority of their applicable CAC. Each CAC must vote on its respective project by Sept. 30, 2025. Mamdani, should he be elected, would be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2026.

Cuomo Played Role in Casinos

Mamdani is relatively against casinos, saying “gambling is haram,” an Arabic word meaning “forbidden.” Adams is an outspoken supporter of bringing casinos to NYC. Cuomo was supportive of casinos while governor, encouraging state voters more than a decade ago to back a constitutional amendment to allow the State Assembly to legalize gambling.

Opponents to casinos in Manhattan and the four other boroughs — and there are plenty, as made evident by initial CAC public meetings — might blame Cuomo for forcing them to consider Las Vegas-like resorts in their communities. That could only lessen Cuomo’s chances of a November upset.