New York Mets’ casino gamble could crap out over parking lot regulations

New York Mets’ casino gamble could crap out over parking lot regulations

Article brief provided by The City
  • Katie Honan, The City
August 15, 2022 10:50 PM
  • Katie Honan, The City

The owner of the Mets has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying city officials in connection with his push to build a casino near Citi Field – but there could be multiple legal hurdles to bring the slots to Queens.

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Both state law and the team’s own lease agreement with the city stand in the way, in particular a financing deal tied to the parking spaces, and rules about building on park land.

Owner Steve Cohen’s dream of turning Willets Point into a gambling hub materialized earlier this year when Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed creating three more downstate casino operator licenses.