Posted on: January 13, 2026, 08:37h.
Last updated on: January 13, 2026, 08:37h.
- MGM Resorts continued its community commitment to New York’s Westchester County in 2025
- The community volunteer hours and funding remained after MGM folded on its full-scale casino pursuit in Yonkers
MGM Resorts shocked New York when it abruptly yanked its casino bid for Yonkers just weeks before applications were due last fall. Despite the Las Vegas-based casino operator folding on its full-scale casino pursuit for its Empire City racino, the company remains committed to bettering the region through community grants and volunteering.
Throughout 2025, MGM’s hundreds of employees at Empire City Casino donated their time by volunteering with various local nonprofits. The casino also provided endowments and funding to charities across Westchester County, including in Yonkers and Mount Vernon, as well as in the neighboring Bronx.
Delivering meaningful social impact that strengthens our communities is in the DNA of Empire City’s mission, both in New York and across MGM Resorts globally,” Empire City Casino President and Chief Operating Officer Louis Theros said in a statement reported by the Bronx Times.
“As colleagues, neighbors, and friends, our commitment has only grown stronger as our team goes over and beyond to support their neighbors. We look forward to continuing our work as stewards of community transformation in the Bronx and Westchester for generations to come,” Theros added.
Racino Remaining
It was Oct. 14, 2025, when MGM Resorts pulled its downstate New York casino application for slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting privileges. MGM had long been considered a favorite for one of the three concessions.
MGM had pitched a $2.3 billion overhaul of Empire City, a racino with a gaming floor spanning 138,000 square feet fixed with approximately 4,500 slot-like video lottery terminals (VLT) and electronic table game positions. MGM concluded that “competitive and economic assumptions” led to the investment no longer being attractive.
MGM, calling the withdrawal a “difficult decision,” added that its investment was calculated on the assumption that it would receive a 30-year casino license. State officials last year said the initial licenses would be good for only 15 years.
Taken together, these events result in a proposition that no longer aligns with our commitment to capital stewardship, nor to that of our real estate partner in Yonkers, VICI,” an MGM statement read.
The company nonetheless reaffirmed its commitment to Yonkers and Westchester County.
“MGM Resorts has been a proud partner of the City of Yonkers and the State of New York since we purchased Empire City Casino in 2019. The property has generated more than $5 billion for New York State education, including $1.6 billion under our ownership. We know our decision will impact many individuals; we remain committed to operating the property in its current format and believe it will continue to enjoy success serving customers in Yonkers and the surrounding communities,” the company explained.
Community Engagement
MGM’s Empire City and its employees helped Feeding Westchester deliver more than 20,000 meals to seniors and needy families in 2025. The casino also provided funding for Catholic Charities Community Services, an initiative of the Archdiocese of New York, to provide 9,000 meals.
Other Empire City Casino beneficiaries included the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, the Hudson River Museum, Yonkers High School, and the Morris Heights Health Center.
Devin O’Connor
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