Want a Casino in New York City? Don’t Vote for this Manhattan Borough Presidential Candidate
Posted on: June 6, 2025, 09:26h.
Last updated on: June 27, 2025, 08:18h.
- The front-runner to become the next borough president of Manhattan opposes casinos
- Downstate New York will be awarded three casino licenses by the end of 2025
- Manhattan is targeted for three gaming resorts
Manhattanites in New York City who hope to soon have a casino resort with slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting within walking distance or a quick taxi or subway ride away shouldn’t vote for Manhattan Borough presidential candidate Brad Hoylman-Sigal. That’s according to Hoylman-Sigal himself, who didn’t hold back during a primary debate in voicing his opposition to the three remaining casino resort bids for Manhattan.
Spectrum News NY1 recently hosted a Democratic primary debate with the three declared candidates. Along with Hoylman-Sigal, a state senator representing Manhattan’s West Side, the discussion included NYC Councilmember Keith Powers, who represents the East Side, and Dr. Calvin Sun, an alumnus of Columbia University and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.
If you want a Manhattan casino, don’t vote for me,” Hoylman-Sigal said when the casino talks arose. “I’m representing Manhattanites. Not a single one has asked me for a casino in their neighborhood.”
Hoylman-Sigal opined that casinos “prey on addiction” and primarily benefit out-of-state interests — not the community and constituents he seeks to serve across all of Manhattan.
Manhattan Casinos
The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board is set to award three casino licenses for the downstate region by the end of the year. The state agency is expected to initially field eight presentations, with three in Manhattan.
The Soloviev Group and Mohegan want to build a casino on the East Side just south of the United Nations Headquarters. Caesars Entertainment has pitched a casino in Times Square at 1515 Broadway. Billionaire Larry Silverstein has suggested a casino resort adjacent to the Javits Center.
Each casino comes with a glut of pledged community benefits. From affordable housing and a community trust fund to the creation of thousands of well-paying jobs and millions in new local tax revenue, the developers behind the schemes continue to tout their blueprints in hopes of rallying up support. While it hasn’t worked with Hoylman-Sigal, Powers and Sun weren’t ready to formally oppose a casino in Manhattan.
Powers accused Hoylman-Sigal of not doing more in Albany to prevent the 2013 casino bill, which initiated the downstate gaming concessions following a 10-year moratorium designed to allow four upstate casinos to solidify their businesses. But Hoylman-Sigal was one of only 11 “nay” votes compared to 48 “aye” votes when the state Senate voted on the expanded gaming bill more than a decade ago.
Sun said he understands that gambling can be bad for one’s mental health, but added, “Do you know what’s worse? Running out of money.”
Borough President has Key Say
After qualifying casino bids are submitted, each proposal will be assigned a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) where a simple majority support will be needed for the project to formally qualify for a concession issuance from the New York Gaming Facility Location Board.
For casino pitches within the five boroughs, each CAC will consist of the state governor, NYC mayor, and applicable state senator, assemblymember, borough president, and city councilmember. Should Hoylman-Sigal, who is considered the favorite, win the June 24 Democratic primary, he will go on to succeed Mark Levine, who opted not to pursue reelection in favor of a bid to become New York City Comptroller. No Republican is mounting a run for the Manhattan Borough presidency.
With Hoylman-Sigal opposing all three casinos, the bids would need four of the five other CAC members to vote in support.
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