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A group of Queens residents has filed a lawsuit seeking to revoke the gaming license issued to billionaire Steve Cohen for his planned $8 billion casino next to Citi Field.
Bernadette McCrann, a Flushing resident and one of the plaintiffs, spoke at a press conference outside the New York State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday. “We urge the court to do the job the Gaming Commission has failed to do,” McCrann said, according to Hell Gate news. “Listen to the people and reverse the casino license.”
The lawsuit, filed on March 20, 2026, alleges the license approval violated the state’s Open Meetings Law during public hearings. Additionally, plaintiffs accuse the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) of failing to properly vet the “moral character” of Cohen and his partners, a statutory requirement for all New York downstate casinos and gaming applicants.
Judicial recusal stalls motion to dismiss NY casino challenge
The legal battle, originally viewed as a long shot because the plaintiffs are representing themselves (pro se), recently saw a major shift. On April 2, 2026, State Supreme Court Justice Nicholas W. Moyne recused himself from the case, citing a “social relationship” with a member of the Gaming Commission. The case is currently being reassigned to a new judge, stalling the commission’s initial attempts to have the lawsuit dismissed.
The $1.8 billion question: Debating applicant integrity
The lawsuit highlights a 2013 incident in which Cohen’s former hedge fund pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges and paid a $1.8 billion fine. While Cohen was not personally charged, regulators barred him from managing outside money for two years.
The plaintiffs also point to Cohen’s partner, Hard Rock International, noting that a senior executive and two employees were suspended last year amid allegations of evading money laundering laws.
Residents claim systematic exclusion
Plaintiff Jack Hu, a lifelong Flushing resident, claims the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) silenced opposition.
“A billionaire, Steve Cohen, has used his money, power, and influence to push through his predatory mega-casino, Metropolitan Park, against the wishes of our working-class immigrant communities,” Hu said.
Hu expressed concern over gambling addiction, which he says has personally affected his family. “The Asian community, unfortunately, struggles with the addiction of gambling. My family is an example of that. This is why the Flushing community is so opposed.”
Metropolitan Park vs. the neighborhood
Despite the litigation, construction preparation began in February 2026 on the 50-acre parking lot west of Citi Field. The project, dubbed Metropolitan Park, was officially approved by the NYSGC in December 2025 alongside two other downstate licenses:
- Bally’s: A resort at Ferry Point in the Bronx.
- Resorts World: An expansion of the existing facility at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.
Metropolitan Park spokesperson Karl Rickett defended the process, stating the project underwent “one of the most rigorous and transparent public reviews” in city history. Rickett noted the plan includes 25 acres of public park space, a renovated 7 train station, and a “Taste of Queens” food hall.
While State Sen. John Liu helped pass legislation to allow the use of the parkland, State Sen. Jessica Ramos remains a vocal opponent, arguing her constituents’ concerns were bypassed by her colleagues in Albany.
