A Casino in Times Square?
Bwaygurl2
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/22
#150A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/3/25 at 5:29pm
My timeline is filled with videos of empty casinos in Vegas. I'm not sure a casino in Times Square would be a success in the current environment. Younger people aren't in to casinos.
#151A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/3/25 at 5:55pm
Tom5 said: "Because there is a law in New York State which does not allow casinos and that will stay in place. This is the New York State lottery in a different form. Go to Resorts World "Casino"in Queens and compareit to AC."
Yeah, that's not true at all. This will probably happen, but it will not be anything like Atlantic City or even the casinos in WNY. It will be small and will blend in with all the businesses around Times Square as seen below. I don't think anyone really cares tho since no one goes to the Disney Dumpster Fire known as Times Square to gamble. 
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#152A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/4/25 at 4:25am
If 'real' casinos were allowed in NYC half the casinos in AC would close. I don't see it happening.
#153A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/4/25 at 9:41am
Tom5 said: "If 'real' casinos were allowed in NYC half the casinos in AC would close. I don't see it happening."
It’s happening, it’s just a question of where. There will be up to 3 licenses for casinos in the downstate area. They are for full commercial casinos.
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#154A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/4/25 at 8:37pm
Coney island is a dead zone in the winter. That's why they should go if they go anywhere in the city. But I'd still be stupefied is they got a green light from Allbany.
#155A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/4/25 at 9:03pm
Tom5 said: "If 'real' casinos were allowed in NYC half the casinos in AC would close. I don't see it happening."
Half the casinos in AC have already closed.
Crusty Bagel
Featured Actor Joined: 7/27/25
#156A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/5/25 at 1:59am
When’s the last time you actually went to AC. it’s packed during the summer and they’ve built new casinos in recent years
#157A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/12/25 at 11:07pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Theatre-Marquees-To-Light-Up-In-Opposition-To-Proposed-Times-Square-Casino-20250812
The stagehands are gonna make bank that day! Oh, but dimming for recently-deceased community members is too expensive and too hard to co-ordinate.
#158A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/12/25 at 11:19pm
BorisTomashevsky said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Theatre-Marquees-To-Light-Up-In-Opposition-To-Proposed-Times-Square-Casino-20250812
The stagehands are gonna make bank that day! Oh, but dimming for recently-deceased community members is too expensive and too hard to co-ordinate."
They're not dimming, they're adding a message to advertisement package on the marquee.
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#159A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/13/25 at 3:00pm
TheatreFan4 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Theatre-Marquees-To-Light-Up-In-Opposition-To-Proposed-Times-Square-Casino-20250812
The stagehands are gonna make bank that day! Oh, but dimming for recently-deceased community members is too expensive and too hard to co-ordinate."
They're not dimming, they're adding a message to advertisement package on the marquee."
Broadway producers: A casino will kill our business! All the tourists will go there instead of to our shows!
Broadway producers (also): Let's charge $117 for balcony seats for a show called Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York" starring 2 actors that 99.999999% of the tourist crowd have never heard of.
#160A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 12:12am
Broadway61004 said:
Broadway producers (also): Let's charge $117 for balcony seats for a show called Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York" starring 2 actors that 99.999999% of the tourist crowd have never heard of."
There was a time when tourists had never heard of A Chorus Line, or Evita, or Phantom, or Cats, or, Les Mis, or Hamilton, or Hadestown.
A year ago no one had heard of Maybe Happy Ending.
If a show is good, it will gain an audience. Time will tell about this.
Whatever the next big hit will be, of this I am certain: no tourist has heard of it yet.
MezzA101
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/23
#161A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 7:53am
Broadway theater owners square off against Fat Joe, Charlamagne tha God over Times Square casino bid
https://nypost.com/2025/08/13/us-news/broadway-theater-owners-take-on-rappers-over-times-square-casino-bid?
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#162A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 8:41am
inception said: "Broadway61004 said:There was a time when tourists had never heard of A Chorus Line, or Evita, or Phantom, or Cats, or, Les Mis, orHamilton, or Hadestown.
A year ago no one had heard of Maybe Happy Ending.
If a show is good, it will gain an audience. Timewill tellabout this.
Whatever the next big hit will be, of this I am certain: no tourist has heard of it yet."
Les Mis was based off of an extremely popular novel, Evita had Lloyd Webber's name (who was already a huge hit with both the stage and film versions of JCS), Phantom had both a popular novel AND Lloyd Webber. Even Hamilton had Lin, who was already well established in the NY theatre community, and Chorus Line had both Donna McKechnie and Michael Bennett who were already established as well. And for every 1 Hadestown, there are 10 Dead Outlaws.
And let's not forget, MHE had Darren Criss. If you don't think the show's popularity (in terms of tourist ticket sales) wasn't largely due to him, just take one look at the sales when he's in vs when he's out.
To be clear, I'm in no way saying Strangers is a bad show or even that it shouldn't transfer. I'm pointing out the hypocrisy of theatre owners getting furious over a casino for the reason that it will take tourists away from their shows, yet simultaneously programming shows that are going to be near impossible sells to tourists.
MezzA101
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/23
#163A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:06pm
The pitch:
https://caesarspalacetimessquare.com/
GottaGetAGimmick420
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/23
#164A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:12pm
Not to be that guy, but I'm curious how much $$$ Wendell is getting for lobby for the casino people
KrupYou
Stand-by Joined: 7/5/25
#165A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/14/25 at 2:17pm
Wow. Theatre owners are VERY against this. Seems they worry folks would rather gamble than see shows.
#166A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/15/25 at 7:36am

Wait, it would take out the 45th Street Junior's? VOTE NO.
#167A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/15/25 at 8:26am
GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Not to be that guy, but I'm curious how much $$$Wendell is getting for lobby for the casino people"
$10 million to launch the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund. "The new fund will support theatres of color and provide direct investments to boost production, marketing, and awareness of New York’s legacy theatres of color—like the Billie Holiday Theatre, the New Heritage Theatre Group, the Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company."
GottaGetAGimmick420
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/23
#168A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/15/25 at 11:25am
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Not to be that guy, but I'm curious how much $$$Wendell is getting for lobby for the casino people"
$10 million to launch theNew York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund. "The new fund will support theatres of color and provide direct investments to boost production, marketing, and awareness of New York’s legacy theatres of color—like the Billie Holiday Theatre, the New Heritage Theatre Group, the Black Spectrum Theatre, and The Negro Ensemble Company.""
But how much is he personally being paid for his private lobbying efforts?
#169A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/15/25 at 12:12pm
KrupYou said: "Wow. Theatre owners are VERY against this. Seems they worry folks would rather gamble than see shows."
Is it less and less traditional gambling than roping tourists into playing their favorite cell phone games or some version of it on casino video consuls while plying them with drinks. ATG must be green with envy at that captive audience of suckers.
#170A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/15/25 at 1:40pm
Much of the Broadway Producers are putting on Broadway look like insipid Las Vegas Shows, They created this environment. Broadway IS becoming tacky and like Vegas, so why are they complaining when a Casino comes in?
Updated On: 8/15/25 at 01:40 PM
MezzA101
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/23
#171A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/21/25 at 7:06am
Mamdani, Skeptical of Casinos, Won’t Try to Block Them in New York City
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/nyregion/mamdani-casinos-nyc-mayor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.f08.ykW-.2CYYyI9V43tq&smid=nytcore-android-share
jimmycurry01
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#172A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/21/25 at 7:58am
CurtainsUpat8 said: "Much of the Broadway Producers are putting on Broadway look like insipid Las Vegas Shows, They created this environment. Broadway IS becoming tacky and like Vegas, so why are they complaining when a Casino comes in?"
If you don't mind sharing, which Broadway shows have you seen lately that look like insipid Las Vegas Shows?
#173A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/21/25 at 7:50pm
MezzA101 said: "Mamdani, Skeptical of Casinos, Won’t Try to Block Them in New York City
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/nyregion/mamdani-casinos-nyc-mayor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.f08.ykW-.2CYYyI9V43tq&smid=nytcore-android-share"
A disappointment, to say the least. But he’s after a bigger prize.
#174A Casino in Times Square?
Posted: 8/21/25 at 8:03pm
MezzA101 said: "Mamdani, Skeptical of Casinos, Won’t Try to Block Them in New York City
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/nyregion/mamdani-casinos-nyc-mayor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.f08.ykW-.2CYYyI9V43tq&smid=nytcore-android-share"
I hate the framing of the title as if he has any say in it.
Directly from the article linked:
“I’ve been open about my personal skepticism, and yet I also know this is the law,” he said. “The siting and the choices of which casinos will open, that pertains to the state.”
Mr. Mamdani would be hard-pressed to stop the expansion even if he tried. The state process for awarding up to three casino licenses is scheduled to come to a head later this year, before the next mayor takes office on Jan. 1. The amount of money, momentum and political capital behind the various proposals renders the arrival of casinos all but unstoppable, even if opponents succeed in scuttling individual applications.
Re the casino: the best Mamdami will be able to do, if he gets elected, is make sure that the casino(s) follow up in their financial obligations and promises to the city, and supporting the workers and their unions that contribute to the casino(s) to make sure they provide quality, high paying jobs for New Yorkers.
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