Caesars bid for a Times Square casino rattles Broadway

Gambling giant Caesars bid for a casino in Times Square is sparking strong opposition from Broadway.

As news of the idea for a Caesars Palace Times Square was announced, the Broadway League jumped into the debate, saying they don’t see a gambling mecca as a good fit alongside the dramas and musicals that draw tourists to New York.

“The addition of a casino will overwhelm the already densely congested area and would jeopardize the entire neighborhood whose existence is dependent on the success of Broadway,” the Broadway League said in a statement.

“Broadway is the key driver of tourism and risking its stability would be detrimental to the city.”

The proposed casino is a joint effort by Caesars and SL Green Realty. It would be located at SL Green’s skyscraper at 1515 Broadway by renovating existing space. The Minskoff Theater, where the Lion King is currently playing, is located in the building and the developers say they plan to retain a theater there.

The Caesars proposal is one of many vying for one of three downstate casino licenses approved by the state legislature earlier this year. Related Companies and Wynn Resorts put in a bid for a casino at Hudson Yards last month.

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State Sen. Brad Hoylman, who represents the district, told The News that his constituents have not asked for a casino in Times Square.

“I have to say I’m extremely skeptical about a casino in Times Square,” Hoylman told The News. “This can’t be just about how much money the operator is going to make … Casinos bring a lot of baggage with them. They prey on the most vulnerable, they have an impact on congestion and traffic, and those are concerns that have to be addressed.”

The Times Square Alliance, the group overseeing the New Year’s Eve ball drop, is staying neutral.

“The Times Square Alliance represents all businesses within our district and understands that they have differing viewpoints and opinions on this issue; therefore, to effectively represent all of our constituents, we will not be taking a position on a casino in Times Square at this time,” a spokesperson told The News.

The bid is endorsed by Local 79, which expects the casino could bring thousands of union jobs to Midtown.

SL Green CEO Marc Holliday, said in a news release that the casino bid could be fast-tracked.

“We believe that Times Square offers the best location for a new resort casino that can attract tourists and benefit local businesses,” he said. “Because we are proposing a renovation, once the license is issued, we can open quicker than other facilities, which require entirely new construction, changes in law, and will be disruptive to their local communities.”