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Jay-Z Goes All-In To Secure a Time Square Casino License
By Shane Addinall May 16, 2023 EntertainmentIn an attempt to expand his empire, American rapper, producer, and investor Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is looking to secure an upcoming New York gambling license to build a casino in Time Square.While Snoop Dogg might be happy to be the Chief Guanjaroo for Roobet, a cutting-edge crypto casino, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has a much loftier goal in mind. When it comes to the music mogul’s “99 Problems”, we know that one of them has been getting a proposed New York gambling venue past a local trade organisation representing theatre owners and producers.
Vying For Government Approval
The famous artist and producer wrote an open letter to New York officials to clarify the supposed confusion and misinformation spread by those opposing his attempt to leverage his money and fame into a casino license.
In a truly poetic piece of writing, penned under the Roc Nation branding, Jay-z expounds on the virtues that a casino licensee must hold in New York; these include:
- Having a track record of delivering on promises.
- Being open to all ethnicities, religions, orientations, and socio-economics standings.
- Have a history of promoting representation and reform.
- Be known for its fair hiring practices.
This section of the letter is capped by the racially charged rebuke that “groups that have a history of oppressing the most vulnerable have no place in New York”. It is safe to assume this is aimed at a competitor for the license as it holds no other value in the broader context of this specific appeal for consideration.
The Theatre Kids Fight Back
One of the most vocal opposition forces in the bid for the upcoming New York City gambling license has been The Broadway League. Despite Roc Nation’s offering to invest $115 million in “diverse theatre programs”, which would include benefits like daycare, the organisation has chosen to stand firm.
They explained their reasoning by saying:
Quote“Far from driving customers to neighbouring businesses, the way theatres do, a Times Square casino would draw customers away from existing area restaurants, many of which are small businesses and constitute an integral part of the Broadway ecosystem.”
They added:
Quote“Every dollar spent at the craps table, roulette wheel or slot machine is a dollar not spent on a play, dinner, or a souvenir.”
The logic seems sound. The coalition bidding for the NY gaming license comprises Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment and SL Green. The group has committed to investing $1 billion to realise its gaming dream. In order to recoup that investment, their primary objective will be to bring visitors into the expansive resort and gaming facility.
Claims that a Caesars Palace Times Square would increase visitors by seven million annually and naturally increase the income potential of all surrounding theatres, restaurants, and other businesses, do not negate that they will want their $1 billion and profits first.
The Art Scene is a House Divided
Despite the concerns raised by The Broadway League, the proposal has found some support among local unions and guilds such as the Actors’ Equity Association. These pro-casino groups believe that if the licensing agreement is correctly drafted, it could be a valuable tool in uplifting the neighbourhood.
The union commented:
Quote“We applaud the developer’s commitment to making the neighbourhood safer for arts workers and audience members alike.”
The actor and stage manager union, Equity, has been bullish about the job creation aspect of a casino development of this size. They have called it a "game changer" as it will offer hundreds of jobs in both the development phase and the long term.
Roc Nation has been quick to capitalise on this positive sentiment by upping its original offer to include investing a portion of its gaming revenues to key upliftment activities such as improving local sanitation and bolstering the presence of security in the area.
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