That’s the price paid by MGM in 2019 to purchase Yonkers Raceway and the adjoining Empire City racino, a slots parlor with thousands of machines but no sports betting and no live dealers for table games. Perhaps even more ominous is that as soon as December 2022, up to three casino licenses can be issued in the New York City area - and MGM Resorts has 850 million reasons why it believes it will get one of those licenses. That’s especially true in New York, where unlike in many states, the mobile sports betting apps will not have to find a willing casino (or racetrack) partner to get a license.
