| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Address | 810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 |
| Operator | MGM Resorts (owner since 2019) |
| Racing | Harness (standardbred), half-mile oval |
| 2026 season | Year-round; meet opened Jan. 19, weeknight first post 6:45 p.m. |
| Casino | Video gaming machines and electronic table games; no live tables, no sportsbook |
| Getting there | Off I-87 at Central Park Avenue, just north of the Bronx line |
MGM’s Yonkers casino bid: $2.3 billion plan withdrawn
On Oct. 14, 2025, MGM Resorts pulled Empire City out of the race for a downstate commercial casino license. The plan would have spent $2.3 billion on live table games, a BetMGM Sportsbook, a 5,000-seat venue and a parking structure, with a target opening of July 2027.
MGM’s reasons, according to CasinoBeats: four bids clustered around New York City, and state guidance cutting the license term from the 30 years MGM had assumed to 15. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano called the move a “betrayal.”
On Dec. 1, 2025, the state’s siting board picked Bally’s Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Resorts World NYC. All three were licensed on Dec. 15, 2025, and Resorts World NYC opened live tables in Queens in April 2026.
MGM told CBS New York it would keep Empire City open, but it declined to commit to a five- or 10-year horizon.
No live dealers: Empire City’s slots and electronic tables
Empire City is a video lottery facility, not a full casino. That means:
- Yes: video gaming machines (slot-style VLTs) and electronic blackjack and roulette. A 2023 refresh swapped in 1,000 new machines, about 20% of what MGM called the biggest gaming floor in its portfolio.
- No: live dealer table games, poker or a sportsbook. Those were what the withdrawn license would have added.
Empire City has generated more than $5 billion for New York education, including $1.6 billion since MGM bought it in 2019, according to MGM. There’s no hotel on site. For the full rules on what’s legal where, see our New York casino guide.
When Yonkers races in 2026
Yonkers opened in 1899 as Empire City Racetrack and races on a half-mile oval. Track media now bills it as MGM Yonkers Raceway.
The 2026 meet opened on Monday, Jan. 19, racing Monday through Friday at 6:45 p.m. The schedule shifts with the stakes calendar. Late-summer Saturday cards went off at 3:30 p.m.
New for 2026: a rule against second quarters of 30 seconds or slower, with fines and suspensions for repeat offenders, and a $1 minimum on the late Pick-4.
International Trot, Yonkers Trot and Messenger: the big nights
- MGM Yonkers Trot (Grade 2, $250,000) and MGM Grand Messenger (Grade 2, $200,000): finals on June 26, 2026. These are legs of harness racing’s Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.
- MGM Yonkers International Trot (Grade 1, $1 million), Sept. 12, 2026: Super Chapter won for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Dexter Dunn. He was the first U.S.-based horse to win it since Resolve in 2016, according to the race’s organizers.
- New York Sire Stakes finals: $2.4 million for 2- and 3-year-olds on International Trot day.
Online options for Yonkers races and sports bets
For horse racing, use a licensed ADW app. TVG, TwinSpires, DK Horse, Xpressbet and AmWager all take New York customers, according to the NY State Gaming Commission. Check each app’s track list for Yonkers, and compare them in our online horse betting guide.
For sports, MGM’s footprint in New York is its mobile app. See our BetMGM New York review and our BetMGM NY offer page, which explains why there’s no welcome bonus in New York right now.
Off I-87, minutes from the Bronx: getting to Yonkers
The complex sits at Yonkers Avenue and Central Park Avenue, off I-87, a few minutes north of the Bronx. Phone: (914) 968-4200.
Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway FAQ
Does Empire City Casino have table games?
Not live ones. Empire City offers electronic blackjack and roulette alongside slot-style video gaming machines. Live dealer tables were part of the license bid MGM withdrew in 2025.
Is Empire City Casino closing?
No closure has been announced. MGM said after withdrawing its bid that it would keep the site open, though it didn’t commit to a long-term timeline.
Is there a sportsbook at Empire City?
No. Video lottery facilities can’t take sports bets in New York. You can bet sports on the BetMGM app anywhere in the state.
What nights does Yonkers Raceway race?
In 2026, live racing ran Monday through Friday with a 6:45 p.m. first post, with some Saturday stakes cards.
Who owns Yonkers Raceway?
MGM Resorts, which bought Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino in 2019.
See all New York tracks and casinos in our venues guide.
Gambling problem? Call or text 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369).