Bally’s Bronx Casino Progress Pushes Trump’s Company Toward a Big Payday
Summary
Bally’s Corporation has cleared a key local hurdle in its bid to build a proposed $4 billion casino and resort on the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx. A Bronx advisory panel voted 5–1 to advance the proposal to the state Gaming Facility Location Board, which will select downstate casino permit winners by December. The plan envisions a 500,000 sq ft casino, a 500-room hotel, a 2,000-seat performance venue and retail and dining amenities. If Bally’s wins a licence, the deal could see the Trump Organization receive about $175 million in total from the lease arrangement.
Key Points
- An advisory panel voted 5–1 to move Bally’s Bronx proposal forward to the state Gaming Facility Location Board.
- The proposed development is a large-scale $4 billion complex: 500,000 sq ft casino, 500-room high-end hotel and a 2,000-seat venue.
- Bally’s bought the Ferry Point lease from the Trump Organization and agreed to pay $60m up front plus up to $115m if it secures a licence — totalling about $175m to the Trump Organisation.
- The project survived a City Council zoning defeat after Mayor Eric Adams vetoed that decision, allowing Bally’s to continue its licence push.
- There is local opposition — the community board previously rejected the plan in a non-binding vote and one advisory member opposed the move citing park-use concerns.
- Competition for the downstate permits remains strong, with rivals including Resorts World (Queens), MGM’s Empire City (Yonkers) and Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park project.
- The Gaming Facility Location Board will pick final winners by December, making this a critical phase for Bally’s and its partners.
Context and relevance
This is more than another casino pitch. It sits at the intersection of big corporate deals, local politics and high-stakes licensing in New York. The potential $175m payout to the Trump Organisation has drawn political attention, and the mayoral veto that revived the project shows City Hall’s influence on big developments. For the borough, Bally’s pitches thousands of union jobs and long-term revenue; for opponents, the worry is loss of parkland and the social impact of large-scale gambling. The outcome will shape downstate casino distribution and set a tone for future urban resort developments.
Why should I read this?
Short version: big money, local politics and potential windfall for the Trump Organisation — all in one story. If you follow US casino licensing, urban development in New York or the business side of high-profile political figures, this saves you the time — we’ve boiled down the essentials so you don’t have to wade through the full piece.
