Under the public endorsement of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Council recently passed a key piece of legislation that clears the way for gambling operator Bally's to develop a casino complex in the Bronx.
The passage of the proposal means that Bally's can continue to push forward its plan to bid for one of the three casino licenses in southern New York State on the Ferry Point golf course site.
This legislation, known as a "home rule message," originally required 34 votes to take effect. However, after the mayor's official endorsement, the council only needed a simple majority to pass it. Ultimately, the proposal was approved with 32 votes in favor, 12 against, and 7 abstentions.
According to Bally's vision, the Ferry Point project will be built into a 500,000-square-foot casino complex, equipped with 500 hotel rooms, conference and event venues, retail stores, and accompanying parking facilities. Although the city council has given the green light, the plot is currently still designated as a state park, and the project's advancement ultimately needs state legislature approval.
Bally's plan is advancing at a time when its business is steadily growing. According to public data, the company's casino and resort division reached a revenue of $351.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, with its North American interactive business also achieving a year-over-year growth of 12.5%.
However, the project is not without controversy. When Bally’s acquired the site in 2023, it signed an agreement with the Trump Organization, promising to pay an additional $115 million if it obtained the gambling license. This arrangement has raised questions among some council members about the financial relationship between the project and the former president's group, increasing political resistance.
Although Democratic representatives from the Bronx generally support the project, some council members voted against it due to concerns about public opposition and external lobbying influences. In response, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams stated that the city government supports a fair competition for casino license approval, not any single proposal, and emphasized that its core goal is to bring maximum employment and economic benefits to New York City.
Bally's has confirmed that once it receives state legislature approval, it will officially submit its license application, joining the fiercely competitive battle for the southern casino licenses. Current bidders also include heavyweight proposals such as the development plan for Citi Field proposed by Mets owner Steve Cohen, with the competitive landscape becoming increasingly intense.
