MGM dropped its Empire City casino bid and Queens got the table games. Here is what that means for Yonkers jobs, school aid and gambling help in Westchester.
For two years, Yonkers looked like a strong bet for one of New York’s three downstate casino licenses. Empire City Casino already sat at Yonkers Raceway, with slot-style machines, live horse racing and a large parking footprint. A full license would have added live dealers and card tables. Then the plan ended, and the table games went to Queens instead.
Photo by Alexander on Unsplash
Alt text: Trotting horses pulling sulkies down a dirt racetrack beside a grandstand, seen from above
Baccarat is the card game most tied to those big-city tables, and it now reaches people far beyond any casino floor. Thai-language pages such as this บาคาร่า ranking promote online play abroad, only for adults where online casino play is legal. In English, that Thai word is just the name of the card game. Online gambling is prohibited in Thailand itself, and no online casino holds a New York license. For Yonkers readers, the real story is closer to home.
Why Did the Full Casino Plan for Yonkers End?
MGM Resorts, which owns Empire City, withdrew its application on October 14, 2025. The company had proposed a $2.3 billion expansion of the site. The plan included a larger gaming floor, a sportsbook and 183 live dealer games.
MGM said its numbers no longer worked. Its proposal assumed a 30-year license, but new state guidance pointed to a 15-year term. It also cited four competing bids clustered in a small area. The withdrawal came shortly after the Yonkers Community Advisory Committee had voted to move the project forward.
Local leaders were caught off guard. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said he was shocked and deeply dismayed, adding that the decision made little sense. Many residents had treated the expansion as close to certain.
Who Won the Downstate Licenses Instead?
Albany’s choice came in two steps. A siting board made its picks on December 1, 2025, and the Gaming Commission voted them through two weeks later, on December 15. The three winners were:
- Bally’s, for a new casino at Ferry Point in the Bronx, on a 15-year license.
- Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, beside Citi Field in Queens, on a 20-year license.
- Resorts World New York City, at Aqueduct in Queens, on a 15-year license.
Each operator faced a licensing fee of at least $500 million and the same minimum capital investment. Resorts World moved first. On April 28, 2026, it opened more than 200 live dealer games, including baccarat, blackjack, craps and roulette. That made it the first full casino with live tables inside New York City.
What Does Empire City Still Bring to Yonkers?
Empire City still operates under the state’s video lottery program. These machines look like slots but run on a central system managed by the state. More than 17,000 video lottery terminals operate statewide, and Empire City at Yonkers Raceway is first on the Gaming Commission’s list of facilities.
That revenue goes into the New York Lottery fund, for aid to public schools. It is one reason trustees and parents, like those honored during school board recognition week, keep an eye on gaming policy.
The city also collects money directly. Yonkers already takes in about $30 million a year from the site, and the bid was projected to bring the city more than $50 million a year.
How Does a Racino Compare With a Full Casino?
The difference matters for jobs as much as for gamblers. Live tables need dealers, supervisors and surveillance staff. Machine floors need far fewer people per dollar of revenue.
| Feature | Empire City today | Full commercial casino |
| Main games | Video lottery machines | Slots plus live table games |
| Baccarat and blackjack | Not offered with live dealers | Offered with live dealers |
| Where revenue goes | Lottery fund for school aid | State tax with a local share |
| Staffing per floor | Lower | Higher, with dealer roles |
| Nearest example | Yonkers Raceway | Resorts World, Queens |
For a commuter town, those dealer jobs were part of the pitch. Many Yonkers workers already juggle long trips or hybrid work schedules, and a local casino job would have cut that travel.
What Makes Baccarat the Headline Table Game?
Baccarat has no decisions after the bet. A player backs the Banker hand, the Player hand or a tie. The house edge is about 1.06% on Banker and 1.24% on Player. The tie bet carries an edge above 14%, which is why dealers rarely recommend it.
That simplicity makes it popular in big rooms and on screens alike. A few points help keep the game in proportion:
- It is pure chance, so no system changes the odds.
- Winning Banker bets usually pay a 5% commission to the house.
- A “streak” on the scorecard does not predict the next hand.
- Online versions promoted from abroad are not licensed in New York.
Photo by Kaysha on Unsplash
Alt text: Stacks of chips on a casino table game as players and staff gather around it
Where Can Westchester Residents Get Help?
New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports runs the HOPEline at all hours. Reach it by phone at 1-877-846-7369, which spells 1-877-8-HOPENY, or by texting 467369. The agency says help is open to anyone affected, including family and friends, regardless of ability to pay.
Other free options include:
- Free financial counseling sessions through GamFin, funded by OASAS.
- Voluntary self-exclusion from all state-regulated gambling, through the Gaming Commission.
- Peer and community support meetings across the Hudson Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empire City Casino Still Open?
Yes. It continues to operate as a video lottery facility at Yonkers Raceway. Only the plan to add a full commercial casino ended.
Can I Play Live Baccarat Near Yonkers?
The closest live tables in the city are at Resorts World New York City in Queens. They opened on April 28, 2026, after the state approved its license.
Can New Yorkers Play Baccarat On Foreign Websites?
Not legally. Albany has never licensed internet casino play, and a 2026 bill to allow it stalled before a floor vote. Overseas sites that reach New Yorkers have no state license.
Who Can I Call About a Gambling Problem?
Call the HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
What Yonkers Keeps From the Casino Race
Yonkers did not get live tables, but it did not lose its racino either. School aid from the machines still flows, and the city’s direct payments continue. The bigger jobs boost now sits in Queens and the Bronx.
That leaves residents with a clearer picture. Any baccarat they see advertised online, in Thai or in English, sits outside New York law. The HOPEline remains one call or text away for anyone who needs it.