As the push for projects seeking a downstate casino license intensifies, so does the list of opponents for some of these casino properties. The project drawing arguably the most criticism is the proposed Times Square Casino from Caesars Entertainment.
Even with a high-profile artist like Jay-Z attached to the project, the Broadway theater world is uniting against the project. The newly formed No Times Square Casino coalition is headlined by The Broadway League, the trade association of the NYC theaters that includes operators, owners, and producers.
In addition to the major theaters, famous area restaurants like Sardis, Joe Allen, and Bar Centrale are also part of the newly formed group.
“After a decades-long turnaround that revitalized the neighborhood and turned it into a pre-eminent destination for locals, businesses, and tourists, Times Square is one of the most vibrant areas in the country. We don’t want to see that progress jeopardized by a casino,” Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin told Deadline.
The Broadway League has vocally opposed the proposed casino since it was first announced in December. The new coalition formalizes the opposition and brings other groups, including Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood associations, to the cause.
The only other casino proposal to draw the same level of criticism so far has been the Las Vegas Sands’ Nassau project. The area, which is adjacent to a number of different schools, has drawn the opposition of Hofstra University, amongst others.
Just because there is opposition to a potential casino does not rule out its chances at a license, but it does impact them to some extent. The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board considers the local response and support when weighing an application, but it is just one element of a holistic process.