Wynn Resorts’ exit from the race to build a casino in New York City has cleared a major obstacle for the Times Square bid backed by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Teaming up with SL Green and Caesars Entertainment, the music and business icon has taken a leading role in pushing for a project that blends gaming, music, and local investment in the middle of Manhattan.
Jay-Z Takes Center Stage in Midtown Casino Plan
From the start, Jay-Z has positioned himself as more than a figurehead. He has been actively involved in shaping the Times Square proposal, holding talks with state officials and labor unions to highlight what makes this plan different. His group is focused on building a destination that fits with Times Square’s entertainment identity, not just adding a casino, but creating a space that works with the theaters, street life, and tourism that already define the area.
The casino would be part of a reworked 1515 Broadway building and include a Caesars hotel, performance venue, and restaurants. Jay-Z has argued that the project would bring new energy to the area while supporting small businesses, live events, and hospitality jobs.
Shifting Away from Offshore Gambling
Online gambling has become a regular part of how many people in New York choose to play. A large number of these players turn to websites based in other countries, drawn by variety, ease of access, and the ability to play whenever they want. Because these sites operate outside U.S. borders, users often rely on VPNs to help protect their connection and data, and it’s therefore common advice in gambling circles to stay safe playing with VPN tools, especially when dealing with platforms that aren’t subject to American rules.
Rather than seeing this as a problem, Jay-Z’s team views it as a sign of how people prefer to gamble today: online, private, and on their own schedule. The Times Square project takes those habits seriously, which is why it is being built with mobile features and strong security from the ground up, not just to match what offshore sites offer, but to give players the same convenience within a local setting…