Wynn Resorts’ exit from the race to build a casino in New York City has cleared a major obstacle for the Times Square bid backed by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Teaming up with SL Green and Caesars Entertainment, the music and business icon has taken a leading role in pushing for a project that blends gaming, music, and local investment in the middle of Manhattan.
Jay-Z Takes Center Stage in Midtown Casino Plan
From the start, Jay-Z has positioned himself as more than a figurehead. He has been actively involved in shaping the Times Square proposal, holding talks with state officials and labor unions to highlight what makes this plan different. His group is focused on building a destination that fits with Times Square’s entertainment identity, not just adding a casino, but creating a space that works with the theaters, street life, and tourism that already define the area.
The casino would be part of a reworked 1515 Broadway building and include a Caesars hotel, performance venue, and restaurants. Jay-Z has argued that the project would bring new energy to the area while supporting small businesses, live events, and hospitality jobs.
Shifting Away from Offshore Gambling
Online gambling has become a regular part of how many people in New York choose to play. A large number of these players turn to websites based in other countries, drawn by variety, ease of access, and the ability to play whenever they want. Because these sites operate outside U.S. borders, users often rely on VPNs to help protect their connection and data, and it’s therefore common advice in gambling circles to stay safe playing with VPN tools, especially when dealing with platforms that aren’t subject to American rules.
Rather than seeing this as a problem, Jay-Z’s team views it as a sign of how people prefer to gamble today: online, private, and on their own schedule. The Times Square project takes those habits seriously, which is why it is being built with mobile features and strong security from the ground up, not just to match what offshore sites offer, but to give players the same convenience within a local setting.
By giving people a New York-based option that feels just as easy and private, the project hopes to keep more of that activity within the state. That means more money stays in the city, more jobs are created, and more public services get funding, all without asking players to change how they already like to play.
Union Support and Local Job Creation
Labor leaders have also been outspoken in their support for the Times Square proposal. The Hotel Trades Council and 32BJ SEIU have both backed the plan, calling it a chance to create thousands of union jobs in the middle of the city. These would include hotel workers, food service staff, maintenance crews, and more. The developers have also promised to prioritize hiring from New York neighborhoods and to build out training programs to help people prepare for careers in the casino and hospitality sectors.
Estimates suggest the project could bring in over $250 million per year in new tax revenue. Jay-Z and his team have said they want that money to go toward better transit, public safety, and improvements to the Midtown area.
Competition Narrows as Wynn Withdraws
With Wynn no longer pursuing the Hudson Yards site, the Times Square team now faces fewer rivals. The main competition comes from Soloviev Group’s East Side casino pitch and Silverstein Properties’ plan near the Port Authority. Both have strong financial backing, but Jay-Z’s proposal stands out for its strong connections to the local arts scene and existing support from labor groups.
Wynn’s withdrawal may have been driven by zoning hurdles and pushback from some community leaders. By contrast, Times Square is already a major tourist zone, and Jay-Z’s group has leaned into that, arguing that their plan would help the area grow without changing what people love about it.
Next Steps
So what happens next? All casino bids must meet certain state deadlines, including environmental reviews and local agreements by June 27. From there, proposals will be reviewed by regional advisory groups and scored by the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board. The final decision, expected by the end of the year, will award up to three licenses, each costing $500 million.
For Jay-Z, this isn’t just another business deal. He’s made it clear he sees this project as a chance to bring something new to a place he’s long called home. As he told lawmakers in Albany, “This isn’t just about a casino. It’s about New York.”
If approved, the Times Square casino could change how gambling fits into the city’s economy, offering local players a safer option than offshore sites and using that shift to fund jobs, events, and neighborhood growth.
