By Christine Sculti, Republican Candidate for Westchester County Executive
While the expansion of the MGM Empire City Casino in Yonkers has strong support from the Mayor and City Council, the state government has the final say on whether MGM will receive a coveted full casino license. The addition of live gaming tables could mark a new chapter for the city and Westchester County. The promise is obvious: more jobs, more tourism, and more tax revenue. But without a granular, public plan for how the community will absorb the shockwaves, this “jackpot” could turn into a long-term loss.
In fact, a few days ago Atlantic City Mayor, Marty Small, Sr., was compelled to pen his own Op-ed. His “look before you leap” guidance to localities contemplating casino development is worth the read: https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/15/nyc-casino-lessons-from-atlantic-city/
An Infrastructure Nightmare in the Making: First, traffic. The casino already sits in a residential neighborhood at the tangled crossroads of state, county, and city roads, just off the Major Deegan, the Bronx River and Cross County Parkways, and Central Avenue. Congestion is a daily complaint. A significant surge in visitors could gridlock not only Yonkers but neighboring communities. Who is responsible for fixing this? Will the state pay for ramp upgrades? Will the city get funding for signal improvements and road widening? Without a binding infrastructure agreement, the region will be left holding the bag.
Sex Trafficking and Drug Activity Concerns: This is a deeply concerning issue, but one that cannot be ignored. A casino of this size is not just a destination for entertainment — it is also a magnet for crime, ranging from petty theft to organized criminal operations. While there is already gambling at MGM Empire City Casino, it is currently limited to slot machines. The proposed expansion would introduce a full range of table games, including cards and other forms of gambling, significantly increasing the risks. Plans to add a hotel in later phases have been discussed. Studies have consistently shown a correlation between large-scale casino operations and increased risks of sex trafficking and drug-related crime. Casinos — especially those operating around the clock — attract transient populations, cash-based transactions, and nightlife activity, creating conditions that enable illicit activity such as trafficking and drug distribution.
The U.S. State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report highlighted how casinos have been used to facilitate human trafficking, with online platforms tied to casinos increasingly linked to cyber scams and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for forced labor. Furthermore, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas study found that casino patrons are 17% more likely to pay for sex than the average survey respondent. These findings underscore the heightened risks that come with the expansion of MGM Empire City Casino from a slot-machine-only venue to a full-scale gambling operation. This expansion demands careful, comprehensive planning to protect our community from the serious consequences that often accompany large-scale casinos.
Social Services Need a Safety Net: Gambling addiction rates inevitably rise when casinos expand offerings. The Westchester County Department of Social Services and local nonprofits must be equipped with additional funding, staff, and training before the doors open to high-stakes table play. Right now, there’s no clear indication they are preparing for this.
Follow the Money and Keep It Local: MGM will profit — but how much of that windfall will stay here? Are we reserving a percentage of new jobs for Yonkers and Westchester residents, or will outsiders flood in and take them? Is there a mechanism to earmark a larger slice of gaming revenue for local infrastructure, schools, and addiction treatment, rather than letting it disappear into Albany’s general fund?
Planning Now, Not Regretting Later: The expansion is coming whether we’re ready or not. But readiness means more than cutting a ribbon and celebrating “economic development.” It means a transparent community benefits agreement that ensures dedicated law enforcement resources, traffic and road improvement projects, investment in commercial corridors, housing initiatives, social services resources, improved sanitation and elected officials presenting a unified, public plan before the first card is dealt.
Otherwise, we’re just rolling the dice with our community’s future. My support of the expansion is contingent on a community benefits agreement that addresses the above concerns, and it must not come at the expense of the existing quality of life.
