Zohran Mamdani won big in the New York City mayoral race, making him the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. But while everyone is talking about the politics, the real game right now is playing out somewhere else: who gets to build the new downstate casinos in New York.

The state has been sorting this out for years. Currently, there are only three bids standing: Resorts World in Queens, Bally’s Bronx, and the Citi Field–backed Metropolitan Park project; all three are waiting for final approval. Together, they could bring billions in private investment and reshape the entertainment scene for the city.

But by the time Mamdani steps into City Hall in January 2026, those licenses will probably be decided. He has been open about his mixed feelings towards gambling , but he has also

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