New York has awarded the three downstate commercial casino licenses that operators spent years and billions of dollars competing for. The winning projects are expected to open in 2026 and are projected to generate roughly $1 billion in tax revenue over the coming decade.
Why it matters
The downstate licenses complete the casino expansion that New York voters first authorized in a 2013 constitutional amendment. Four upstate casinos opened in 2016–2017; the downstate awards finish the map with venues in the New York City area.
The iGaming connection
The rollout is also central to the online casino debate. Lawmakers have repeatedly cited the need to establish the new physical casinos before adding online competition, and unions worried about brick-and-mortar jobs have used the same argument. With the licenses now awarded and construction underway, one of the standing objections to iGaming may weaken over time — though it did not move the needle in the 2026 session.
For a full picture of what is and is not legal in the state, see our New York gambling law guide.