Brooklyn’s Casino Bid on the Brink as “The Coney” Faces Likely Rejection
Brooklyn’s Casino Bid on the Brink as “The Coney” Faces Likely Rejection
After the swift rejection of three Manhattan casino proposals, Brooklyn’s lone contender may soon share the same fate. “The Coney,” a $3.4 billion project proposed for Coney Island, appears all but doomed as key members of its Community Advisory Committee (CAC) publicly declare their opposition.
Manhattan’s Losses Set the Tone
In just one week, New York’s casino race saw three high-profile Manhattan bids—Caesars Times Square, Avenir, and Freedom Plaza—denied. Each fell by a 2-4 CAC vote, with little debate.
Now, the spotlight shifts to Brooklyn. Two members of The Coney’s CAC, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, confirmed Monday they will vote against the project once the official ballot is held. A third member had already voiced opposition, meaning the project is unlikely to secure the four votes needed out of six to advance.
Sharp Criticism from Brooklyn Officials
“The Coney has failed to prove itself as a public good,” Reynoso told the Brooklyn Eagle. “The proposal is deeply unimpressive and unresponsive to the needs, desires, and rich history of the Coney Island community. Quite simply, it will not improve conditions for the Brooklynites who call Coney Island home.”
Scarcella-Spanton echoed that sentiment, stating the project “would not be suitable for the proposed location.”
Their opposition compounds the skepticism already voiced by Marissa Solomon, a local resident and long-time critic of the project, who was appointed to the CAC by Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny. Solomon’s rejection has been unwavering since the project’s first presentation.
Public Hearings Expose Deep Resistance
Even before official opposition solidified, public hearings spelled trouble for The Coney. Both sessions were chaotic, contentious, and hostile, marked by shouting matches, heavy objections, and police intervention.
Thor Equities and its partners—including the Chickasaw Nation, Saratoga Casino Holdings, and Legends Hospitality—pitched the project as a transformative, year-round destination featuring a casino, hotel, and entertainment complex. But despite its ambitious scope, The Coney drew the lowest level of public support of any bid to reach the CAC stage.
For many, the hearings underscored an uncomfortable reality: while the project carried a $3.4 billion price tag, community resistance outweighed financial promises.
Political Momentum Against the Project
Assemblymember Brook-Krasny, a vocal opponent from the beginning, reinforced the shifting tide in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter):
“Today’s news indicates three ‘NO’ determinations on the proposed Coney Island casino development. From the outset, my office maintained that this project was not a fit for our neighborhood.”
With three members publicly opposed, The Coney’s chances of advancing appear virtually nonexistent.
Racinos Await Crucial Votes
As Brooklyn’s bid collapses, attention turns to the two racino projects—MGM Empire City and Resorts World NYC—scheduled for CAC votes on Thursday. MGM will be reviewed first at 10 a.m., followed by Resorts World at 3 p.m.
Both operators are considered frontrunners, thanks to their speed-to-market advantage, established operations, and massive tax contributions. Resorts World projects a July 2026 casino launch, outpacing MGM’s timeline by a full year.
While MGM faces some community opposition in Yonkers, it has underscored the stakes, warning that without a full casino license, the property could be forced to shut down. bdg game Competing against three nearby commercial licensees, MGM has said, would be unsustainable.
Outlook
With The Coney on the verge of collapse and Manhattan already out, the New York casino race increasingly looks like a contest dominated by the racinos. By week’s end, Resorts World and MGM may stand as the clear frontrunners—leaving just a handful of hopefuls fighting for the final license.