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Casino Bidders Pour Millions into Lobbying NYC Officials Amid Fierce Competition for Licenses
By: Fern Sidman
As the battle for casino licenses in New York City heats up, some of the biggest names in the gaming and entertainment industries—led by Mets owner Steve Cohen—are spending record-breaking sums to gain favor with city officials. According to a report that appeared on Tuesday in The New York Post, six of the top ten lobbyist spenders in the city last year were casino bidders, contributing to a staggering $138 million in total lobbying expenditures.
The surge in spending represents an increase of over $7 million from the $130.96 million recorded in 2023, per the latest report from the New York City Clerk’s Office. The New York Post report highlighted how casino developers have funneled more than $6 million into lobbying efforts aimed at securing one of the three coveted downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded by the end of the year.
“This level of spending for casinos was the full employment act for lobbyists in 2024,” John Kaehny, executive director of the government watchdog group Reinvent Albany, told The New York Post. Echoing this sentiment, Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group added, “Casinos are looking to load the dice by hiring an army of lobbyists to cash in on the casino contracts.”
At the forefront of the spending spree is Mets owner Steve Cohen, whose Queens Future firm is vying to develop a massive Metropolitan Park casino complex near Citi Field in Willets Point. Partnering with Seminole Hard Rock, Cohen has already poured over $2 million into lobbying efforts, The New York Post reported. Yet, this figure pales in comparison to his broader financial clout—Cohen recently committed nearly $800 million to sign free-agent baseball star Juan Soto and has donated $116 million to LaGuardia Community College, alongside other philanthropic efforts.
Cohen is not alone in the race to secure one of the lucrative casino licenses. The New York Post report detailed how other major bidders are aggressively lobbying city officials:
Genting’s Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack, which seeks to upgrade its existing slot machine operation to a full-scale casino with live table games, spent $990,000 on lobbying efforts.
Bally’s, which is proposing a casino adjacent to the former Trump Ferry Point golf course in The Bronx, allocated $914,000 toward lobbying.
East River Realty/Stefan Soloviev and Mohegan Sun, which are pitching a “Freedom” casino along the East River, spent $613,000 in their campaign.
Wynn NYC-Related Companies, pushing for a Hudson Yards casino, invested at least $579,000 in lobbying, as per the information provided in The New York Post report.
The Coney Casino consortium, which includes Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings, The Chickasaw Nation, and Yankees-affiliated Legends, funneled $488,000 into its efforts to bring a gaming resort to Coney Island.
The competition is fierce, with the New York State Gaming Commission expected to make its final decisions on casino licensing later this year. According to the report in The New York Post, bidders are not only investing in lobbyists but also working to frame their proposals as economic boons for the city, promising job creation, increased tax revenues, and revitalization of their respective target areas.
One of the most high-profile casino proposals comes from the partnership between SL Green, Caesars Entertainment, and Roc Nation, which is pushing for a gaming and entertainment complex in Times Square. As reported by The New York Post, Caesars alone has invested $162,000 in lobbying efforts, while SL Green has enlisted four separate firms to advocate for its portfolio of projects, including the Times Square casino bid, with at least $100,000 directed toward that effort.
These casino bidders, along with others vying for one of the three available licenses, face significant regulatory hurdles. Many of these projects require land-use approvals from the New York City Council, the Adams administration, and municipal planning boards before construction can proceed. This has fueled a lobbying frenzy, with casino developers working to gain favor with key decision-makers.
While the casino industry has dominated recent lobbying expenditures, other major sectors have also poured millions into influencing policy. As detailed in The New York Post report, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association ranked among the top lobbying spenders, shelling out $797,037 to advocate on issues including the ongoing insurance crisis affecting the city’s yellow taxi industry.
Telecommunications and media companies also made their presence felt in the lobbying arena. The New York Post reported that Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum and NY1, spent $630,500 on lobbying efforts aimed at tracking broadband expansion legislation and securing a renewal of its franchise agreement. Meanwhile, RAI Service Company—affiliated with Reynolds American tobacco—spent $574,704 in an aggressive campaign to block proposed legislation that would ban menthol cigarettes.
Healthcare was another significant sector in the lobbying landscape. According to The New York Post report, Northwell Health, which owns Lenox Hill Hospital, spent $485,315 as it navigated a planned expansion of its Upper East Side facility.
Despite these substantial investments from various industries, casino bidders were among the most aggressive lobbyists in the city. In total, lobbying efforts in 2024 reached a record-breaking $138 million, with nearly a third—31%—dedicated to real estate, construction, engineering, and development-related issues. Technology, telecommunications, and media accounted for 8%, while education, healthcare, and banking each comprised about 5% of the total lobbying expenditures.
City budget issues were the most heavily lobbied subject, comprising nearly a third of all lobbying activity. As The New York Post reported, 27% of lobbying efforts targeted city board and commission rulings, including those related to real property, while 19% focused on legislative advocacy and 9% on procurement contracts.
The competition among lobbying firms has also intensified. The New York Post report indicated that Suri Kasirer LLC retained its position as the city’s top-earning lobbying firm, raking in over $17 million in compensation. Other major firms include Bolton-St. John, which earned $10.46 million, Pita Bishop & DelGiorno at $6.78 million, and Constantinople & Vallone, which secured $6 million.
Mets owner Steve Cohen, a major player in the casino bidding wars, has enlisted an extensive network of political influencers to bolster his Queens-based proposal. As reported by The New York Post, Cohen’s firm currently employs 14 different lobbying outfits, including the Mirram Group—co-run by former Bronx Democratic leader Robert Ramirez and Luis Miranda, the father of “Hamilton” playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda. His team also includes former Bronx Democratic Party chairman Marcos Crespo; Tusk Strategies, led by political strategists Bradly Tusk and Chris Coffey, both of whom worked under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg; former Queens Councilwoman Julissa Ferrera-Copeland’s firm, Hollis Public Affairs; and Moonshot Strategies, co-founded by Jenny Sedlis, known for her past work with a pro-Mayor Adams Super PAC and a pro-charter school advocacy group.
As the year progresses, the lobbying battle over casino licenses and other major policy issues in New York City shows no signs of slowing.
