New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen Lobbies for Casino outside Citi Field in Queens

Placing a bet live at the sportsbook or playing cards at the casino while you can still hear the cheering sounds of a baseball crowd is a sports bettor’s dream. If New York Mets owner Steve Cohen gets his way, that dream could soon be a reality at Citi Field.

Home to the Mets since 2009, Citi Field sits adjacent to 50 acres of parking lots and asphalt that Cohen is hoping to turn into a casino and entertainment center. With three gaming licenses for a brick-and-mortar location up for grabs in New York, Cohen is putting major efforts into securing one for a Queens location. Cohen is no stranger to throwing large amounts of cash at something he wants, evident by the $800 million dollars he spent in the 2022-23 offseason to upgrade the Mets roster.

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Mixed Reactions to Queens Casino Proposal

A poll conducted by a research firm claims that 78% of local Queens residents support the proposal, but there are mixed feelings over the validity of the poll, given that it was made up of just 600 residents and was conducted with support from the very group pushing the proposal.

“Survey commissioned by billionaire wannabe casino owner surprisingly shows big support for casino.” https://t.co/h2LwEkUWS3

— Save FlushingMeadows (@SaveFMCP) May 3, 2023

It’s hard to imagine that New York state isn’t keen on the idea, with nearly $1 billion in revenue gained via taxes and fees from the first full year of mobile sports betting. A destination casino with the added boon of a professional baseball team right next door would certainly juice up the state’s gaming revenue in the industry’s biggest market even further.

Interestingly enough, this wouldn’t be Citi Field’s first foray into gaming, as they opened a Caesar’s Sportsbook Lounge inside the stadium. Bettors can’t place wagers at kiosks or a counter, but fans will be able to use the Caesar’s mobile app and make wagers in the designated area.

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Other venues with gaming opportunities are popping up across the major sports leagues in the United States. Wrigley Field, the famous home of the Chicago Cubs, is expected to open a DraftKings sportsbook inside the stadium during the 2023 season. FedEx Field, home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders also has a sportsbook, while the Cleveland Cavaliers have one inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

It remains to be seen how much momentum Cohen’s vision gains as the lobbyists clash with the vocal opposing groups, but it will be an interesting saga as it plays out over the next year and beyond.

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