A new casino bid could be put forward in New York State soon, as the Vornado Realty Trust – New York City’s second-largest commercial landlord – may be looking to build a casino on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Hotel Pennsylvania near Penn Station in the city.
A report in The New York Post indicates that Vornado is looking to apply for a casino license at the location. However, it does not have a deal.
As the New York State Gaming Commission selects three locations in the state for commercial casino construction, a potential new application is made.
A spokesperson for Vornado told the Post that they are looking into the possibility of applying for casino licenses in the Penn Station area but have not reached a deal.
“The most important criteria for any project is to meet the economic development goals and produce the transit-related improvements and improvements set forth by the state’s General Project Plan.”
Although Vornado was not mentioned as a partner in the casino, the Post suggested that Vornado might collaborate with Rush Street Interactive Chairman Neil Gary Bluhm.
Although the New York Gaming Facility Board has not set a deadline for casino applications, it could be February 3 since this is when the first round of questions will be open to applicants.
New York casino bids so far
Multiple operations expressed interest in various locations throughout the state, with a $500m minimum capital investment and a $500m license fee.
Caesars Entertainment bids to build a casino in Times Square, near Broadway. This is done with the partnership of SL Green and Roc Nation. This bid also has the backing of the Coalition for a Better Times Square. This is a group of Times Square stakeholders.
Saks Fifth Avenue department store HBC has also suggested a casino project on the Saks Fifth Avenue building’s upper floors.
MGM Resort’s Empire City Casino also seeks a downstate New York license. Las Vegas Sands is also bidding for a license after entering an agreement to lease the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.
Bet on Games Holdings and Wynn Resorts are other firms that are bidding to open a New York casino.
