Comment Period Ends 1 Day Prior to Votes on 2 Proposed Casinos

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | From the top-tier talent on Broadway to the world’s worth of authentic cuisine found up and down Restaurant Row to the pedestrian plazas filled wth tourists taking in sights and sounds they’ll be talking about for years to come: The Times Square area has never run short on “Only in New York” offerings. So why does the city that has everything need a casino? Well, some people say it will bring plenty of well-paying union jobs and provide a non-stop stream of tax revenue. Others warn about increased congestion, crime, and flat broke grannies who’ve given their life savings to the slot machines.

For decades, the presence of casino gambling in Manhattan was just the stuff of speculation, But in 2022, New York State allowed for as many as three commercial gambling licenses in the downstate region. Eight proposasl are vying for one of those lucrative licenses, with two Times Square projets practically on top of each other. Both.have been subject to praise and ridicule, by way of public sessions presented by their respecive CACs, or Community Advisory Committees. Its members are appointed by six local and state elected officials. Two-thirds of the membership must vote (by October 30, 2025) in favor of the particular project before them in order for the license application to be considered by New York State’s Gaming Facility Location Board.

“Your voice will be used to guide policymakers’ decisions on the proposals,” said NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone, of the public testimony gathered by CACa. Along with that assurance, Simone’s email of Sunday, September 14, contained important information about the unexpectedly accellerated vettinng process.

“The Community Advisory Committees for The Avenir and Caesar’s Palace Times Square casino proposals will hold their vote on Wednesday, September 17th,” wrote Simone. As such, the public is advised to submit their comments by Tuesday, September 16.

You can email your written comments regarding the Avenir here — and for Caesars Palace Times Square, here.

Screenshot of the CAC’s Sept. 11, 2025 event by CCNews.

Want to see how it all shakes out when the CACs meet on September 17? Manhattan Community Board 4 provided this information in their informative email of September 15:

Times Square Community Advisory Committee:
10am

View Webcast

The Avenir Community Advisory Committee:
11:15am

View Webcast

Directly below, find a rundown of CAC membership as well as links to the recordings of their recent public comment sessions.

Caesars Palace Times Square

Proposed Site: Times Square, 1515 Broadway, Manhattan

August 13, 2025: Community Advisory Committee – Public Hearing 1 for Caesars Palace Times Square

September 11, 2-25: Community Advisory Committee – Public Hearing 2 for Caesars Palace Times Square

Caesars Palace Times Square Community Advisory Committee

CAC Appointing Authority CAC Appointee

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul. Peter Hatch

NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal Richard Gottfried

NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone. Matthew Tighe

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Chris Carroll

NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Laura Smith

NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher. Carl Wilson (Chair)

THE AVENIR

Proposed Site: 11th Avenue & 41st Street, Manhattan

July 16, 2025: Community Advisory Committee Public Hearing 1 forThe Avenir

August 27, 2025: Community Advisory Committee Public Hearing 2 forThe Avenir

The Avenir Community Advisory Committee

CAC Appointing Authority. CAC Appointee

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul. Angel Vasquez

NYS Senator Liz Krueger. Richard Gottfried

NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone. Matthew Tighe

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Madeleine McGrory

NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Laura Smith Nabeela Malik

NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher. Quentin Heilbroner

For more information on this process, click here.

—END—

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Comment Period Ends 1 Day Prior to Votes on 2 Proposed Casinos is posted on September 15, 2025