Despite major opposition from local residents, Bally’s has gotten the green light from its community advisory committee (CAC) to proceed to the next stage of the application process for one of three downstate New York licenses.
The CAC voted 5-1 in favor of progressing the Ferry Point project. The pitch once looked like a long shot after the City Council voted against it before Mayor Eric Adams vetoed their decision.
$27.5m in annual investment Bally’s has agreed to make in the local community
One of the big reasons committee members cited for supporting the plan was the $27.5m in annual investment Bally’s has agreed to make in the local community. The only downvote came from Danielle Volpe, who said that the benefits of the casino aren’t “worth the burden it would place on the Bronx.”
Bally’s joins MGM Empire City and Resorts World New York City, two existing slots parlors, as the other pitches to survive CAC votes so far. If Bally’s gets final approval and develops its $4bn casino, the Trump Organization will receive a $115m payment from the Rhode Island-based company because of a 2023 agreement when Bally’s bought the golf course on which it hopes to house the resort from the Trump Organization for $60m.
