Empire City Casino is one of the premium hotspots for gaming in New York, and this was again confirmed at Strictly Slots Magazine’s annual Best of Racino Awards. The gaming facility located in Yonkers, NYC, has won an impressive five awards at this year’s running of the awards, which are voted by readers of the magazine, and select their favourite gambling amenities in the country.
The gaming amenity is located on 810 Yonkers Ave in Yonkers and operates every day from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. It offers an immense variety of cutting-edge electronic table games, video blackjack, and slot machines to its many patrons. However, live table games are still not allowed at its premise but MGM Resorts is working on the matter.
Receiving Player Recognition
At this year’s edition of the Best of Racino Awards, Empire City Casino obtained a total of five honours. Readers of Strictly Slot magazine voted the property as Best Casino for its welcoming environment and exciting games and entertainment atmosphere. In addition to that, it was awarded a spot in the Friendliest Racino, Best Variety of Slots/VLTs, Best Race & Sports Book and Best Online Racing categories.
Ed Domingo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Yonkers establishment shared that the team is proud to receive such high recognition for its patrons. And in his words, the awards reflect the casino’s commitment to providing world-class hospitality and entertainment. With one of the largest gaming floors in the country, the property will continue to focus on player experience, said the GM.
MGM Resorts purchased the gaming amenity in January 2019, and since then the leader has made some serious upgrades to its facilities and offerings. Some of the modernizations include a new state-of-the-art VIP gaming floor, the introduction of the company’s MGM Rewards program, as well as the launch of online sports betting in the state via its mobile brand BetMGM.
Just recently, the Yonkers establishment hosted its first outdoor Sunday night concert since the start of the unprecedented situation in March 2020. On Sunday, the stage was occupied by Grammy-winning rhythm and blues band the Commodores, who delighted visitors. The casino’s Taryn Duffy commented that it was appropriate to have the Motown legends as the first outdoor live performance in years.
Seeking Gaming Expansion
Despite it being a gaming hotspot with over nine million annual visitors, MGM Resorts is looking to acquire a full-scale casino license for its Yonkers facility. This will allow the casino to offer live table gaming, and in May 2022, the company announced its plans to apply for one of the three downstate commercial licenses, which were fast-tracked by the state.
The gaming property has a great chance of landing one of the three licenses, as it has also been backed by “A Sure Bet for New York’s Future.” In November 2021, the coalition rallied before the casino as a demonstration of its support for expansion. Assemblymember Gary Pretlow said that the expansion of gaming offerings would benefit the region as it would secure numerous well-paid and stable jobs.
