NYC Casino Expansion Sparks Regional Competition With Atlantic City

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Exterior of Atlantic City as it faces regional competition with NYC expansion

The approval of three full-scale casinos in Queens and the Bronx marks a pivotal shift for Northeast gaming that could reshape Atlantic City’s competitive landscape and ignite regional competition.

Key Takeaways:

  • New full-scale casinos approved in Queens and the Bronx signal a regional competition shift
  • Atlantic City aims to defend its market through reinvestment and online integration
  • Industry experts warn of intensified rivalry impacting long-term gaming strategies

New York’s Gaming Facility Location Board cleared proposals for Hard Rock near Citi Field, an expanded Resorts World at Aqueduct, and a Bally’s project at Ferry Point according to The Associated Press. Industry leaders warn the move will intensify regional competition, particularly for drive-in regional play.

Regional Competition Ramps Up With New Casino Approvals

“The addition of three integrated resort-style properties in the region will, at least in the short term, increase competitive pressure on Atlantic City operators,” said Jane Bokunewicz, head of Stockton University’s Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism as reported by NJ.com. Atlantic City operators emphasize reinvestment , more than $1 billion deployed recently , and point to unique beachfront assets and growing omnichannel strategies that bridge online and land-based play.

Atlantic City Leans on Reinvestment to Stay Competitive

According to Gambling.com, Atlantic City’s recent performance complicates forecasts: strong online and October results drove record and near-record gross gaming revenues even as brick-and-mortar margins were squeezed by rising costs. 

State and industry reports show robust tax contributions but caution that projected New York tax windfalls and attendance gains may be optimistic given the mounting regional competition. Operators face a choice: accelerate experiential investment or risk share erosion as novelty fades for new properties.

Policymakers and operators say coordinated reinvestment, cross-platform loyalty integration and targeted marketing to drive-in visitors are the immediate levers to defend Atlantic City’s year‑round resort positioning amid intensifying regional competition as New York projects phase in through 2030.