The move by MGM Resorts International – first reported by Crain’s and confirmed by The Post – to withdraw an application to expand its existing Empire City outpost leaves a trio of contenders for three coveted state gaming licenses.

In a move that stunned local officials, MGM Resorts on Tuesday pulled Empire City Casino in Yonkers from the race for a limited number of casino licenses in New York. The sudden reversal has the city’s mayor calling for an investigation into whether President Donald Trump could have influenced the decision.

MGM was a leading contender to win one of the state's three casino licenses before pulling their bid Tuesday night, and whittling the field down to three.

Empire City Casino in Yonkers abruptly ended its bid for a license upgrade and a $1.7 billion expansion after MGM said the economic factors changed.

MGM Yonkers has withdrawn its application for a commercial casino license in Yonkers only weeks after its expansion plan was approved. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano is calling on Gov. Hochul to investigate the matter.

One of the four remaining applicants for a New York State casino license has withdrawn its name from the running. MGM’s Empire Casino in Yonkers withdrew its commercial casino license application on Tuesday after its Community Advisory Committee passed it to the next phase of approval in September.

The Yonkers City Code prohibits dumping “in or upon any street, lot, park, public place or other area, whether publicly or privately owned.” Fines for illegal dumping were increased in 2012 from $500 per violation to at least $5,000 and up to $10,000.

MGM on Tuesday unexpectedly withdrew its casino license application for Empire City in Yonkers. The mayor said “something doesn’t add up.”

The award-winning indie feature And Through the Portal We Go, directed by Mike Hayhurst, will make its New York homecoming this fall with screenings at YoFi Fest and the Queens World Film Festival.

In the third quarter of 2025, the median asking rent in New York City reached $3,599, up 5.4% from a year ago, according to the third quarter NYC Rent Report from Realtor.com®. While New York rents fell sharply during the pandemic,

The nonprofit Carrie's TOUCH focuses on helping Black women not just survive, but thrive after being diagnosed with breast cancer.