Local opposition to Caesars’ planned Times Square casino made headlines this weekend.
A strong majority of 71 per cent of voters who live in or near Times Square oppose Caesars' proposed casino with SL Green and Jay Z’s Roc Nation in the Big Apple, the New York Post cited a survey commissioned by the No Times Square Casino Coalition.
The survey from the group, which is backed by the Broadway League of Theater owners, found only 23 per cent of voters supported the project.
Local support is an important component of the New York City-region bidding process that will award three casino licenses, with the state requiring support of a local board appointed for each proposal.
Reasons cited for the opposition in the survey include traffic and crime. The survey included residents of Times Square, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Murray Hill and Gramercy Park.
Less than 1-in-10 voters say CZR’s Times Square proposal is the best location for one of the three licence, the poll said.
More broadly, the poll found over half of those surveyed from midtown Manhattan opposed any casino development in the city’s five boroughs.
Opposition came from across all major demographic groups, with stronger opposition by women and seniors, the poll found.
Elsewhere, Sen. Joe Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow are attempting to hasten the NYC licence approval process, which currently is expected to be completed at the end of this year.
The proposal from the two legislators would require bids from operators to be submitted by July 31 and licences awarded by next March.
Bidders for the licences include CZR, Las Vegas Sands, Steve Cohen, Genting, Bally’s, Mohegan Entertainment and Soloviev Group, Saks Fifth Avenue, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts and related companies.
Source: Fantini's Gaming Report
