New York City Council likely to advance Bally's casino proposal, potentially disputing council members' influence.

In the heart of New York City, the Bally's casino proposal for the southeast Bronx is moving forward, despite some opposition and controversy. On July 30, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the New York City Council's decision to reject Bally's casino bid, allowing the project to continue [2].

The veto has caused a stir within the Council, as it represents a departure from the traditional practice of member deference in land use matters. In this case, the Council's approval of Bally's bid went against the local member's stance, breaking with the usual deference to individual council members on land use and zoning decisions [4].

This situation has sparked tension within the Council, with some members questioning the wider involvement versus deferring to local members in land use approvals. Council Member Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat from Queens, argued that the Council's decision not to block a casino bid in the Bronx goes against the wishes of Council Member Kristy Marmorato, the local Republican elected official who has opposed the Bally's Corp.'s casino proposal in her district [6].

Council Member Holden stated, "Member deference is the only real power we have as council members," referring to the council's practice of allowing council members to unilaterally decide the fate of land use approvals in their own districts [7]. However, Holden's comments were made during the Democratic conference on Monday, indicating that the issue is still a topic of debate within the Council.

Applicants for commercial casino licenses in New York State, including Bally's, must complete all entitlement processes (land-use/zoning, environmental reviews) by September 30, 2025. Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are required to vote on their respective projects by that date, after which approved applicants submit further materials, including proposed tax rates, to the Gaming Facility Location Board [1]. Final Board decisions are expected by December 1, 2025, with Commission licensure following by December 31, 2025 [1].

It remains to be seen whether the New York City Council will schedule a meeting to hold a vote to override Mayor Adams' veto ahead of a tight deadline next week. However, it appears that the Council does not seem to have the appetite to take up a veto override fight over a casino [5].

The controversy surrounding the Bally's casino proposal is not just limited to the City Council. Critics have pointed out Mayor Adams' friendly relationship with President Trump, whose Trump Organization could benefit from Bally's winning a casino license [8]. City Hall has insisted that Mayor Adams' earlier intervention on Bally's had nothing to do with his relationship to Trump [9].

In his statement, Mayor Adams expressed a desire to give the proposal the same shot as other bidders to compete for a casino license [3]. Council Spokesperson Benjamin Fang-Estrada stated that if the mayor wants to help the casino applicant, it's a decision that the state can investigate [10].

As the deadline for zoning and environmental approvals approaches, the future of the Bally's casino proposal in the Bronx remains uncertain. The Council's decision not to block the bid has raised questions about the tradition of member deference over land use issues, and the outcome of the project will likely set a precedent for future land use decisions in New York City.

References: 1. NYS Gaming Commission 2. Mayor Eric Adams vetoes City Council's rejection of Bally's casino bid 3. Mayor Adams wants to give Bally's casino proposal a shot 4. Bally's casino bid goes against member deference tradition 5. NYC Council unlikely to override Bally's casino veto 6. Council Member Kristy Marmorato opposed to Bally's casino proposal 7. Council Member Bob Holden on member deference 8. Critics question Mayor Adams' relationship with President Trump 9. City Hall denies any connection between Mayor Adams and President Trump 10. Council Spokesperson Benjamin Fang-Estrada on potential conflict of interest

New York City Council likely to advance Bally's casino proposal, potentially disputing council members' influence.