NYC Council poised to advance casino proposal by Bally's, potentially undermining council member power.
Bally's Casino Proposal Moves Forward Despite Council Opposition
In a surprising turn of events, Bally's Corporation's $4 billion casino proposal for the Bronx is proceeding, despite opposition from the New York City Council. The council initially voted against rezoning the land needed for the casino in July 2025, but Mayor Eric Adams vetoed this rejection, and the Council declined to override his veto.
The sequence of events marks a departure from the usual City Council member deference tradition on local land use decisions. Typically, council members have significant influence over land use decisions in their own districts, a practice known as member deference. However, in this case, Mayor Adams intervened by removing a home rule provision and using his veto power to push the Bally's project forward.
The casino proposal, which includes a 500-room hotel and event center, was first submitted in June 2025. Council Members Rafael Salamanca and Kevin Riley called on Mayor Adams to issue the veto of the council's land use rejection, while Council Member Bob Holden expressed his concern that the proposed casino might not benefit the city at large.
Mayor Adams, in his statement, expressed a desire to give the Bally's proposal the same shot as other bidders to compete for a casino license. The ultimate decision to grant a casino license lies with the state Gaming Facility Location Board.
The council members from the Bronx delegation, Salamanca and Riley, argued that the Bally's casino proposal should have a shot, while Council Member Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat from Queens, argued that the New York City 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.
The Trump Organization could potentially benefit from Bally's winning a casino license, but City Hall has insisted that Mayor Adams' earlier intervention on Bally's had nothing to do with his relationship to Trump. Critics of Mayor Adams have pointed to his friendly relationship with President Trump and the involvement of two people in his inner circle who have worked for Bally's.
Despite the council's initial rejection, the Bally's casino proposal is moving forward, highlighting the mayor's strong support for the project. The council didn't have the appetite to take up a veto override fight over a casino, according to two people with knowledge of the discussion on Monday. The council's spokesperson and Council Member Kristy Marmorato did not respond to requests for comment.
- The Bally's Casino proposal, initially rejected by the New York City Council, is moving forward due to Mayor Eric Adams' veto, despite opposition from some council members.
- The casino-culture in Las Vegas serves as a trendsetter, but the impact of casino-games and casino-and-gambling on politics and policy-and-legislation is evident in New York City, as seen in the Bally's proposal.
- The general news about the Bally's Casino proposal reveals that the housing in the planned Bronx area may be affected, adding to the ongoing debate about the societal effects of casino developments.
- As the Bally's casino proposal continues, it is important to consider its potential implications on the local community and city as a whole, including its impact on the casino-culture and gambling trends in the region.
