Soon, New York City will probably see three new casinos. Their owners could rake in significant profits. This follows a recent surge in gambling in the United States, which has some campaigners worried.
Last week, the New York Gaming Facility Location Board approved three proposed casinos. These casinos will be located in the largest city in the United States. Two of the casinos will be in Queens, and one will be in the Bronx. The board’s report states that it made this decision after determining the businesses would create new jobs. It also concluded they would generate billions in tax revenue.
The New York Times reported that the board expects the state gaming commission to follow its recommendations. Analysts project that the casinos will open over the next five years.
However, some city residents and gambling researchers argue that urban casinos do not benefit cities. They claim the casinos mainly take revenue from existing businesses, increase gambling addiction, and provide few high-paying jobs.
A Boise State University emeritus professor of marketing who has done extensive research on casinos, Jonathan Krutz, said that they say it’s going to generate all this money, but it’s not generating that money.
He added that it’s just moving it around in the economy. Specifically in larger population areas, casinos tend not to attract gamblers from outside the region. Instead, they primarily take money from local residents.
The industry exploded after the US supreme court struck down a law in 2018 that stopped most US states from legalizing sports betting. In Q3 2025, the US gaming industry generated almost $19 billion in gross gaming revenue. The American Gaming Industry reported a 7% increase from the same period a year earlier. This marks 19 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth.
Jama Internal Medicine journal study states that there has also been a 23% increase in internet searches for gambling addiction help, since that court decision.
