MGM Unveils New Vision for Empire City Casino in Yonkers: What’s Next for Empire City?
Yonkers, New York ✈
Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is located at 810 Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York – right near the border of the Bronx. The location is easy to reach from New York City, and many locals consider it a go-to spot for a quick day trip or an evening out. It’s currently branded as Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, but MGM has announced plans to rebrand it as MGM Empire City in the near future, reflecting MGM’s growing investment in the property. The casino is essentially a “racino” – a combination of a racetrack and casino – with a long history in Yonkers and a modern gaming floor added on.
Walking inside, you’re greeted by the chiming and beeping of slot machines and electronic games. The atmosphere isn’t glitzy like a Las Vegas Strip casino, but it’s lively in its own way – lots of local New Yorkers enjoying a night out.
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“I can appreciate how far Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway have come, and I’m intrigued by where they’re headed. With MGM’s takeover and its bold future plans, it’s on the cusp of a new era.”
Keeping Gambling Fun and Responsible
When I visited with friends, I kept in mind the importance of gambling responsibly. I stress to anyone that you should never wager more than you can afford to lose. For me, the casino is entertainment first and foremost – a place to have fun, not a way to make money. Never expect to win when you walk in. In fact, you should assume that whatever money you budget for gambling that night might be gone by the end. You should never go in expecting to win. If you do win, it’s a bonus. That mindset keeps the experience enjoyable and free of disappointment.
If you hit a jackpot, treat it as a happy surprise – maybe it pays for a nice dinner or pays some of your bills. But know it’s pure luck. I’ve seen people get into trouble chasing losses, so set a limit for yourself before you start playing. For example, I you might decide, “I’m only spending $100 tonight on games.” If I lose that, I’ll stop and just enjoy the rest of the night watching friends play or catching a show at the bar. Empire City Casino also promotes responsible gambling; you’ll see signs with the state’s problem gambling hotline and messages reminding patrons to stay in control. It’s an important atmosphere to maintain because a casino should be about fun, not financial stress.
Yonkers Raceway: A Historic Racetrack
One thing that makes this casino unique is its deep history as a horse racing venue long before slot machines ever arrived. Yonkers Raceway, as the site is traditionally known, dates back to 1899 when it opened as the Empire City Race Track. For well over a century, this location was all about horse racing. In the early days, it hosted Thoroughbred races – and there’s even a famous story of the legendary Seabiscuit winning a notable race here in 1936. Later, Yonkers Raceway became primarily a harness racing track – a form of racing where horses pull sulkies – and it remains one of the oldest operating harness tracks in the United States. Generations of New Yorkers have memories of coming to the races here.
Before casino gambling was legalized in New York, the big draws at Yonkers Raceway were the horse races and the associated betting. Pari-mutuel wagering was legalized in New York around 1940, allowing tracks like Yonkers to accept bets on races. Throughout the 20th century, Yonkers Raceway held many important harness racing events. It was home to prestigious races like the Yonkers Trot and the Messenger Stakes, part of the harness racing Triple Crown. For a long time, if you came to this property, it was all about the horses – people studying racing forms, placing bets at the windows, and cheering from the grandstands.
Even with the casino now on-site, live horse racing still takes place at Yonkers Raceway regularly. The racetrack is adjacent to the casino floor – literally next door, separated by some doors and hallways. On race nights, you can hear the announcements of each race while you’re on the gaming floor. Many visitors like to take a break from the slots to watch a race or two. You can stroll over to the trackside or watch from an indoor viewing area and catch the harness racing action. Races typically run five nights a week, usually in the evenings, and they also offer simulcast betting if you want to wager on races at other tracks around the country. It’s a dual experience: casino gaming and horse racing in one place. Not many venues offer that in the New York metro area.
The Casino’s Opening and Expansion
Casino gambling at Yonkers became possible after New York State legalized “video lottery terminals” at racetracks in the early 2000s. Empire City Casino officially opened its doors on October 11, 2006, as the new gaming addition to Yonkers Raceway. I recall the buzz around its opening – finally, a casino close to New York City, years before any casinos would open in the city’s boroughs. In the beginning, it was fairly modest by casino standards: about 1,870 electronic gaming machines were set up in a portion of the property.
In those early days, there were no live table games. The law didn’t allow Yonkers, or other racinos in New York, to have dealers or classic table games. However, over time they introduced electronic versions of popular table games. By the 2010s, the casino added electronic roulette, blackjack, craps, and baccarat machines. These are essentially video or fully automated table games – for example, roulette has a mechanical wheel under a dome that spins automatically, and players place bets on a touch-screen. It’s a different vibe from having a live dealer, but it offers some variety beyond slots.
As the casino expanded, the gaming floor grew quickly. What started with a few thousand machines soon grew to roughly over 5,000 gaming machines spread over a 290,000-square-foot space. Walking through the gaming floor, you’ll find everything from penny slots to high-denomination games. The range of games is broad – classic three-reel games, modern video slots with bonus rounds, video poker, keno machines, and so on. The minimum age to play is 18, which means you’ll see some college-age visitors who wouldn’t be able to gamble at a casino in other regions where the age is 21.
An interesting aspect is that a portion of every bet goes toward New York State education funding due to the lottery setup. Since opening, Empire City Casino has generated billions in tax revenue for New York’s schools. The New York Lottery initially operated the electronic gaming at the casino, and those lottery roots are still reflected in how the machines pay out and contribute to state funds.
When it first opened, Empire City Casino was operated by the family that owned the racetrack in partnership with New York State. They had been stewards of Yonkers Raceway for decades. With the introduction of the casino, they oversaw the expansion from a racing venue into a racino. The facility quickly became one of the busiest gaming venues in New York, often topping revenue charts among the state’s racetrack casinos. By 2012, it was reported as the state’s most successful casino and racing venue in terms of revenue and attendance. This success set the stage for further interest from larger casino companies.
Gaming, Dining, and Entertainment
A trip to Empire City Casino isn’t just about pulling slot machine handles. There’s a fair variety of activities and amenities on site to make it a well-rounded outing. The main draw is, of course, the slot machines and electronic games. With over 5,000 machines available, you won’t have trouble finding an open game even on a busy Saturday night. You can choose games at all betting levels – from 1¢ penny slots to $100-per-spin machines in the high-limit section. If you’re into table games, there are electronic blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat machines available. However, if you’re craving live dealer action, you won’t find that here yet – not until the casino potentially obtains a full gambling license in the future. There is also a dedicated area for simulcast betting on horse races from other tracks, and a room where you can watch live Yonkers races or even place a bet on them if you’re not outside at the track.
Dining at Empire City Casino offers several venues and bars to keep guests fed and happy. There’s a food court area on the casino floor that offers a little bit of everything – you can grab quick bites like pizza, burgers, sandwiches, Asian noodles, and desserts in a cafeteria-style setting. It’s perfect when you want something fast between gaming sessions. Near one of the entrances, there’s a diner-style counter that’s great for a quick snack or late-night eats and stays open until the early hours. For a sit-down meal, one classic spot is a longstanding Italian restaurant that serves pastas and parmigiana. There’s also an Irish pub-inspired restaurant named after the family that once ran the racetrack; it has a cozy vibe with lots of TVs for watching ballgames and even hosts dueling pianos on some nights. While there are not a lot of kosher options, you can grab a kosher snack or yogurt at The Big Kitchen. There are also multiple bars and cocktail lounges spread throughout the property. The main casino bar on the floor is a popular gathering spot.
Entertainment at Empire City Casino is on a smaller scale, but there are options. There is a small stage in one of the bar areas where live bands or DJs perform, especially on weekends or for special events. I was there on Karaoke night, which explains why at first I didn’t understand why the singer was terrible! The casino also hosts events like trivia nights and viewing parties for big sports games, with the bar areas often decked out for events like the Super Bowl or March Madness. Since this is also a racetrack, special racing events can be a draw – big harness racing nights sometimes come with additional fanfare, giveaways, or trackside concerts. The property includes large open spaces, like the grandstand and track infield, which have occasionally been used for festivals or community events. However, one limitation has been the absence of a dedicated large entertainment venue. Unlike a full-scale resort casino, Empire City doesn’t yet have an arena or theater for major concerts – but that is set to change with MGM’s future plans.
MGM Rewards and Loyalty Program
Being an MGM Resorts property, Empire City Casino participates in MGM’s nationwide loyalty program. The program is free to join, though you do need to be of age to enroll. Every time you play a machine or spend money at a restaurant, you can use my loyalty card to earn points. The system is tiered, meaning your play and spend earn you credits that determine your status level. There are five tier levels in total, starting at the entry level and moving upward to the highest level, which is by invitation only.
One great aspect of this loyalty program is that the points and tier status you earn at Empire City can be used at other MGM properties. For instance, I if you take a trip to Las Vegas and stay at one of MGM’s hotels – you are able to use points you accumulated in Yonkers toward your hotel bill in Vegas. Likewise, your slot play in Vegas contributes to your overall status, which benefits you in Yonkers. MGM Rewards ties together several resorts in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and regional casinos across the country. So being a member at Empire City connects you to a larger network. For an avid traveler or casual gambler, that’s a nice plus. Even if you’re mostly a casual player like me, it doesn’t hurt to earn some comps.
MGM’s Acquisition and Future Plans
A major turning point for Empire City Casino came in 2019 when MGM Resorts International acquired the property – both the casino and Yonkers Raceway – from the family that had long operated it. The purchase was a signal that the venue had significant value, and it was exciting to see a big name in the casino world invest in Yonkers. After the acquisition, MGM Resorts took over operations, and the property was integrated into the larger MGM family. Small changes were noticeable immediately: new signage, a fresh coat of paint in some areas, and MGM branding in the promotional materials. They also improved some of the dining options. MGM brought their experience in hospitality to the property, even if the existing format as a racino limited certain aspects of a full resort experience.
One thing that surprises many is that Empire City Casino doesn’t have a hotel on the premises. Unlike most MGM casinos, which are part of large resort complexes, this location has the casino, the racetrack, and parking structures, but no hotel tower – at least not yet. If you’re planning to stay overnight, you’ll need to find a hotel elsewhere in Yonkers or head back to New York City. The absence of a hotel feels like a missed opportunity, and MGM seems to understand that. There have been talks of adding a hotel as part of future development. In fact, many observers, myself included, fully expect that if MGM secures a full casino license and expands the property, a hotel will likely be part of the plan. MGM has a track record of building iconic hotels, so the thought of a possible MGM hotel in Yonkers is exciting. It will be interesting to see if in a few years we might be able to book a weekend getaway room on-site once renovations take shape.
Transformation into MGM Empire City
The reason MGM bought this property goes beyond just operating the existing slots; they have a vision to transform Empire City from a busy slot parlor into a full-scale casino resort and entertainment destination. The catch is that they need a full-scale commercial casino license from New York State to do so. Currently, New York is in the process of issuing a limited number of new casino licenses downstate, including in NYC, Long Island, and the Yonkers area. Empire City is a front-runner in this process given its established success. MGM has been actively campaigning and planning for this expansion. In November 2023, MGM Resorts officially unveiled its vision for the future MGM Empire City. Their ambitious plan for a phase-one redevelopment includes a comprehensive makeover of the casino floor to accommodate live table games for the first time – real blackjack, poker tables, and roulette wheels with human dealers, much like what you’d expect in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. They also mentioned introducing the newest slot machines and a high-limit gaming area for VIP guests.
Beyond gaming, MGM’s vision includes building a 5,000-seat entertainment venue on the property. That would be a game-changer. Right now, big concerts or shows aren’t happening at Empire City, but the addition of a proper arena could draw major performers and special events. I can imagine, down the line, being able to see a famous artist perform there, then hitting the casino floor after the show, all without leaving Yonkers. The plan also emphasizes new dining experiences. MGM intends to bring in celebrity chefs and create new restaurants – a modern steakhouse, a casual Italian-American eatery, and an authentic Asian noodle bar are all on the discussion table. Existing eateries like the food court and the pubs would likely be upgraded to higher-end concepts.
Another component is a BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge. Sports betting has been off-limits here aside from horse racing wagers, but with a full casino license, a dedicated sports lounge with a massive LED screen, comfortable seating, and all the amenities for watching games and placing bets is in the works. I picture a space similar to the sportsbooks in Las Vegas – a welcome addition for spending a Sunday afternoon during football season or March Madness.
Infrastructure improvements are also part of the future plans. MGM has discussed building a new parking garage to improve access, which may seem mundane but is much appreciated by anyone who has dealt with crowded parking at Empire City. They also mentioned upgraded meeting spaces that could attract conferences or events, integrating the property more into a multi-purpose venue rather than solely a casino. All of this is framed as a “phase one” – which implies MGM might have even bigger long-term plans, including a hotel, spa, or even retail spaces in later phases. Even just this initial vision marks the start of a new era for the Empire City property. Local officials have expressed strong support, seeing it as a source of new jobs and economic growth for the region.
Looking Ahead
I can appreciate how far Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway have come, and I’m intrigued by where they’re headed. With MGM’s takeover and its bold future plans, it’s on the cusp of a new era. For now, Empire City Casino is a convenient, fun outing just outside New York City, where you can indulge responsibly and share good times with friends. If the plans come to fruition, MGM Empire City will ensure this historic Yonkers spot continues to thrive for generations to come, blending its horse racing legacy with a modern casino resort experience.
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