MGM on Tuesday unexpectedly withdrew the application for a casino license For Empire City in Yonkers.
“Today, MGM Resorts made the difficult decision to withdraw its application for a commercial casino license in Yonkers, New York,” the company said in a statement. “Since submitting our application in June, the competitive and economic assumptions underlying our application have changed, altering our expectations of the return on the proposed $2.3 billion investment.”
The company said their application to create a full-fledged table gaming casino was contingent on receiving a 30-year license, but “based on recently released New York State guidance,” they now only expect to receive a 15-year license.
MGM also noted that “the new competitive environment—with four proposals clustered in a small geographic area”—poses additional challenges to achieving the project's originally expected profits.
MGM would have renovated Empire City Casino at Yonkers Speedway will include a sportsbook, high-limit lounge, 5,000-seat venue, new restaurants and event space, garage and more. The proposal also included commitments to improve local streets and parks.
Although the expansion won't go ahead as planned, MGM said it intends to keep the Empire City arcades open.
“We remain committed to operating the hotel in its current format and believe it will continue to successfully serve customers in Yonkers and surrounding communities,” the statement said.
MGM offer Empire City Casino advances to final round of consideration for a lucrative government license last month, one of the few New York City Area Casino Applications have yet to survive the committee approval process.
There are now only three remaining high-stakes contenders in the battle for three gaming licenses in the southern parts of the state: two in Queens at Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack and Citi Field, backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen, and Bally's in the Bronx at the former Trump golf course.
Offers for Casinos in Times Square and Hudson Yards previously collapsed Despite opposition from neighbors, MGM's proposal passed a community vote.
My statement @EmpireCCasino @GovKathyHochul @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/PH22PMiile
— Mayor Mike Spano (@MayorMikeSpano) October 14, 2025
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano was stunned by Tuesday's announcement. called for an investigation.
“This decision by MGM defies all logic and is nothing short of a betrayal of the residents of Yonkers and Westchester County,” Spano said in a statement. “I call on Governor Hochul to launch an independent investigation into this process because the reasons why MGM is doing a 180-degree turn simply don’t add up.”
“It’s no secret that the big winner from this reversal will be Bally’s proposal to build a casino at the former Trump Links building in Whitestone,” Spano continued. “It’s also no secret that Bally’s has an agreement with Donald Trump where they will pay him an additional $115 million if they can open a casino there.”
Spano, noting that the same rules apply to other bidders who have not withdrawn their bids, said an investigation needs to be conducted to reassure his community that “there is no connection between MGM's decision and the enormous financial gain for Donald Trump.”
“The residents of Yonkers deserve to know whether this process was tainted or manipulated in any way,” he concluded. “Something doesn't add up here. People deserve answers.”
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