New York City Mayor Eric Adams has used his veto power to give Bally’s Corporation a lifeline in the race to get one of three downstate casino licenses.
The City Council had rejected the proposal to allow for commercial usage of the proposed site in the Bronx earlier in July, part of which is a golf course previously owned by the Trump Organization.
Mayor Adams used his veto on Wednesday; the council now has ten days to overrule him by securing a two-thirds majority. Explaining his reasoning, the Brownsville native said he wants to have a competitive and fair playing field for the casino license application process.
the Trump Organization stands to get a $115m payout if Bally’s gets the green light
Some people pointed out that the Trump Organization stands to get a $115m payout if Bally’s gets the green light when the New York State Gaming Commission makes its final decisions before the end of 2025.
Mayor Adams already helped Bally’s to overcome a hurdle in June by lending his support to a proposal to redesignate the site from parkland, which meant that it only needed 26 votes to pass instead of the typical 34.
When asked about potential favoritism influencing his actions, the 64-year-old said that his veto decision “is not an endorsement or expression of support giving a leg up to any casino bid over the others.”
