Jay-Z Aims at Casino Tycoons: The Caesars Project in Times Square
Jay-Z Aims at Casino Tycoons: The Caesars Project in Times Square
Jay-Z, already one of the richest artists on the planet, decided to add a "casino boss" to his status. Together with Caesars Entertainment, he wants to build a gambling complex right in the heart of New York - in Times Square.
How it's meant
In 2023, the state authorities opened a race for three licenses for new casinos in New York. 11 largest operators applied, including Caesars. And not alone, but in the company of a native of Brooklyn - Jay-Z himself.
Their plan is audacious: to place the casino inside the SL Green skyscraper, one of the most recognizable buildings in the square. In the scheme of income and responsibilities, everything is written in advance:
- Roc Nation (Jay-Z company) is responsible for the show program, concerts and media, receiving about 20% of the profits;
- Caesars controls the gaming business itself and takes the main share;
- Live Nation joins as a media partner and takes a small percentage;
- SL Green acts as a landlord and gets its piece of the pie.
Where is the case now
In 2025, the authorities moved from papers to public hearings. In July, Jay-Z personally presented the project and relied on numbers. According to calculations, the invested $5.5 billion should bring the city about $7 billion in taxes over 10 years. In addition, the project promises to revive the economy of Manhattan and pour another $26.7 billion into related industries.
The contender casinos must be determined by the end of the year, and the struggle here is very close.
Problems and protests
The idea of building a casino in the heart of New York did not suit everyone. The Broadway theater community is strongly against it: on the day of the hearings, they took to Times Square with protests and hung billboards with anti-gambling messages. Their position is clear - gambling next to theaters sounds like cultural sacrilege for them.
How it can end
Jay-Z's project with Caesars is one of the loudest and most expensive in this race. It has been compared to Donald Trump's legendary Taj Mahal in terms of ambition and scale. But experts are sure that MGM and Resorts World are still the favorites, which means that the real competition is for the last, third license.
By the end of the year, it will become clear who will win. And if everything works out, Jay-Z will officially add the title of New York casino tycoon to his regalia.
