Jay-Z (via Roc Nation), Caesars Entertainment, and SL Green submitted their proposal for a posh casino and hotel at 1515 Broadway in Times Square to the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on July 23, 2025.
A five-star hotel with 992 rooms, a gaming floor that is 150,000 square feet in size, 1,000 gaming rooms, Caesars Sportsbook, fine restaurants, a spa, and entertainment venues are all part of the project. Over a ten-year period, the group projects $26.7 billion in economic activity, $7 billion in taxes, and $250 million in community benefits.
Jay-Z presented Times Square as the “ideal location,” stressing that the proposal is “additive” to Broadway rather than competitive.
“If we treat Times Square with the love and attention that it requires, it can fulfill its promise”.
Strong support has been expressed by labor unions, local business leaders, and government officials, who point to the creation of nearly 6,800 jobs, the majority of which are held by New Yorkers (3,000 in construction and 3,800 permanent).
With Cadre founder Ryan Williams, Rev. Al Sharpton openly supported the bid, emphasizing intentions to allow locals to invest as little as $500 through an inclusive ownership model.
Small businesses, cultural institutions like Town Hall, and hotel groups also support the idea because they think it would increase foot traffic and visibility for nearby businesses.
Broadway theater unions and organizations, on the other hand, are against the plan because they believe it will drive away patrons, upset the theater industry, and raise commercial competition and neighborhood barriers.
Concerned that the development could damage the area’s cultural identity, local resident organizations and business alliances, such the No Times Square Casino movement, have staged protests close to Father Duffy Square.
Final decisions on up to three downstate casino licenses are anticipated by December 2025, with the official bid being made by June 27, 2025.
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The project’s total estimated value is $5.4 billion, and the departure of significant rivals has improved SL Green’s assessment of its prospects. Executives at SL Green said that because there are less active rival offers, the company’s chances are now “very excellent.”
Jay‑Z’s bid for a Times Square casino remains a front-runner; thanks to political endorsements, broad community backing, and a bold pitch anchored in local investment and economic uplift.
But it faces strong cultural resistance from Broadway stakeholders and residents concerned about preserving Times Square’s artistic identity. With the state set to award licenses by year-end, the jury is still out—but the proposal has momentum.
