The New York City Community Advisory Committee (CAC) held its second and final public hearing to discuss Caesars Entertainment’s proposal to build a casino in Times Square. According to the project, the project has significant potential to create new jobs and “millions” in community investment for the city.
Opposition to the project raised concerns about the potential for crime in Times Square and Broadway as a result of the project, as well as the potential for a casino to alter the culture of the area and the city.
Opponents of Caesars’ proposal carried signs reading “No casino in Times Square” during the public hearing held on Thursday (11). Meanwhile, Broadway workers, union members, small business owners and local residents held a march to support the project.
The CAC will hold an official vote on September 30. Additionally, he also held a public hearing with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International’s Metropolitan Park project on September 9.
Caesars Palace Times Square partnered with civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and digital real estate entrepreneur Ryan Williams to pursue an inclusive ownership model for the casino hotel project.
According to reports, this partnership was based on Caesars Entertainment’s commitment to “supporting the well-being of the people and communities in which it operates.”
Performance of casinos and sports betting in the state
The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) reported on the state’s casino and sports betting performance for August 2025 on September 8. According to the figures, casinos’ Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) grew 4.7%, generating $65 million, while sports betting reached a turnover of just over $2 billion and a GGR of $178.2 million.