Jay-Z’s Bid to Open Casino in Times Square Denied by Local Advisory Board

Times Square at dusk with bright billboards, tall buildings, and pedestrians on the street.

A proposal to bring a Caesars Palace casino to Times Square, backed by rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, was rejected Wednesday by a state community advisory committee in a 4-2 vote. The $5.4 billion plan, which also involved Caesars Entertainment and developer SL Green Realty, sought to transform the office tower at 1515 Broadway into a hotel, casino, and entertainment hub. But opposition from Broadway theater owners, producers, and residents proved decisive.


The “no” votes came from representatives for Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, state Sen. Liz Krueger, Assemblyman Tony Simone, and Councilman Erik Bottcher. Appointees of Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams voted in favor. Following the defeat, SL Green CEO Marc Holliday lashed out at the committee, calling the decision “a despicable display of cowardice” and accusing opponents of turning their backs on potential jobs and economic benefits.


The Broadway League, which spearheaded opposition through the No Times Square Casino Coalition, hailed the decision as a victory for a theater district still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Theater owners, labor unions, and neighborhood groups argued a casino would undermine the cultural and economic balance of Times Square. Without local board approval, the project is off the table, narrowing the field as the state Gaming Commission prepares to award up to three New York City-area casino licenses in December.

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