The New York City Planning Commission has approved a large-scale casino and entertainment complex proposal for Coney Island, marking a significant milestone in one of the city’s most debated development plans. Despite this approval, the project’s future remains contingent on a critical decision from state authorities.
The proposed project, The Coney, aims to cover three blocks along Surf Avenue, situated between Maimonides Park and Luna Park. The developers intend to construct a 1.3 million-square-foot complex, including a casino, hotel, convention center, retail space, and additional amenities.
While most commissioners favored the land use application, Juan Camilo Osorio voted against it, citing unmet recommendations from the Brooklyn borough president. His concerns include the sky bridge design, lack of sufficient public amenities, and inadequate street improvement plans that fail to address flood risk adequately.
“This includes the design of the sky bridge and the lack of sufficient public amenities. Additionally, the street improvements need to be stronger to account for future flood risk,” Osorio stated during the vote.
NYC Downstate Casino Licenses
The application now proceeds to the New York City Council for a public hearing and final vote. However, even with Council approval, the development faces another significant challenge in obtaining one of only three downstate casino licenses from the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board.
Nearly a dozen proposals are competing for these limited licenses. Final submissions are due by June 27, votes are anticipated in September, and a final decision is expected on December 1.
Local opinions on the plan are divided. In January, Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 rejected the land use change with a vote tally of 24 to 11. Concerns have been raised regarding traffic, crime, and the displacement of small businesses, while others support the project for its potential to generate jobs and attract investment to the neighborhood.
Despite the Planning Commission’s endorsement, the developers of The Coney face significant competition and an extensive approval process.
Legit NYC Casinos
While there is only one NYC brick-and-mortar casino now, US players can access numerous legitimate online casinos. New York has not passed any laws that make online casino gambling illegal. However, it does not allow its state-licensed casinos to operate online.
Reputable online casinos often bear international branding and operate from outside the US. To ensure player trust, US online casinos often undergo regulatory practices, where the game odds and encryption protocols are tested.