June 9, 2026
What a Casino Means for Corona’s Future
By John Myers
By Amanda Shea Hungria
“It’s not a good idea, The new youth can be influenced by gambling, drugs, prostitution…It’s not a good thing that a casino is being built in our community.” Said Bronx native, Jose Lopez.
The approval of Steve Cohen’s $8 billion casino in Corona, Queens, has sparked considerable backlash not just in the community but throughout all boroughs, mainly due to the consequences this project could bring.
Corona is a densely populated, bustling immigrant community, with 60% of its residents born outside the US. The neighborhood already experiences significant seasonal strains during major events, such as the US Open and the baseball season at Citi Field. With the construction of the casino, Corona could see these impacts triple and new issues emerge.
Walking around the area, many residents like Tracy Gatting had worries about the casino.” Also, you wonder too, with people gambling, will they break into people’s cars trying to get different things?”
The Queens borough board voted 54-5 to approve the casino, granting billionaire Cohen the green light. Cohen is a Long Island native now worth an estimated $23 billion. He is the owner of the New York Mets and is the richest owner in Major League Baseball. His large net worth has allowed him to freely and heavily invest in lobbying city officials, which played a major role in the board’s votes.
Cohen has spent approximately $9 million on lobbying efforts, securing endorsements from Senator John Liu, Borough President Donovan Richards, and Senator Michael Gianaris. Most surprisingly, Assemblywoman Larina C. Hooks, who represents Corona, also voted yes despite campaigning to “protect local residents from eviction and displacement” and “protect local businesses.” After multiple attempts to get a statement regarding the casino, Hooks’ office did not respond. Publicly, she cited job creation as her main reason for support.
It seems likely that due to major and successful lobbying efforts from Cohen, Hooks was swayed. Statistics and studies directly contradict the campaign goals she claims to support.
Casinos often promise economic growth through job creation, increased tax revenue, and tourism. But as professor Jonathan Kurtz of Boise State University in 2025 stated, “The revenue going into casinos, by and large, comes locally, so it’s not benefiting local businesses, it’s taking away from local businesses, and the money casinos depend on comes primarily from people who are addicted.” Communities are left with reduced revenue, declining local businesses, and increased gambling addiction. Krutz analyzed the National Census Bureau data across 39 states from 2007 to 2012, finding that retail sales growth rates were two to three times lower in casino areas. Corona has over 550 local businesses, not including street vendors. For these small business owners, the casino threatens to divert customers and revenue, risking closures and job losses.
Residents are also at risk. In 2023, the Urban Institute found that large developments often raise nearby rents and property taxes. With over 75 percent of Flushing and Corona residents renting, this poses a serious threat. Casinos have sometimes brought increased prosperity to low-population, rural counties, but Corona is not. “ It’s already too chaotic, from the Mets stadium,US Open, concerts, it’s just gonna bring more chaos.” As Maria Rodriguez, a Dorie Miller housing resident, had to say. Dorie Miller residents wait years for garage parking to avoid the struggle of finding spots during sports seasons, paying $105/month to avoid hassle. This casino could trigger a slow but steady increase in living costs,additionally increasing the parking shortage, only making it harder for residents to afford to stay and even want to stay.
The casino also raises serious social risks, just as residents like the ones Ms.Tracy fears. The American Psychological Association found that gambling problems can rise by 20-40% in areas with casinos. This, in turn, can endanger residents with heightened mental health stressors and community crime. Theft and fraud, often committed by individuals struggling with addiction to cover losses, could become unexpected and troubling realities for Corona.
