Zohran Mamdani’s election comes at the same moment New York State is getting ready to call time on its long, messy downstate casino race. He takes office on January 1, 2026; the state aims to make its selections by the end of 2025. In other words, the big choices will be locked in before he ever sets foot in City Hall.

On the trail, Mamdani didn’t hide his discomfort with growing gambling in the city. He talked openly about the social costs and the scale of the proposals. At the same time, he kept pointing to a simple fact: casino licensing is a state job. That mix, personal skepticism paired with a clear read of where the power sits, has been his through-line. He may not love the idea, but he’s not pretending the mayor can flip the switch.

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