New York Mayor Eric Adams stepped in at the final minute to breathe some life back into the chances of Bally’s Corporation getting a license to build a casino in the Bronx.
Things weren’t looking too rosy ahead of the City Council vote on Wednesday, with officials deciding whether to allow part of the golf course on the proposed site, formerly owned by President Donald Trump, to be redesignated for use as a casino from its current parkland designation.
final tally was 32-12 in favor of redesignation
Mayor Adams declared his support for the plan, which meant that the measure only needed 26 votes to pass instead of the usual 34 votes. The final tally was 32-12 in favor of redesignation, with seven people abstaining.
The next step is for the bill to enter the state legislature. If things go to play, Bally’s will gain the legal clearance to submit an official bid for one of three downstate New York casino licenses. If the company successfully gets a permit, it will have to pay The Trump Organization another $115m.
There is stiff competition for the three permits, illustrated by Steve Cohen allegedly hiring lobbyists to try to block Bally’s from getting the redesignation.
