It looks like the Bronx is getting a casino.

In a major vote Monday, the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board unanimously approved a casino licence for Bally’s in the Bronx — along with two other downstate projects — handing a long-sought win to the gaming operator and bringing the city one step closer to full-scale Vegas-style casinos.

The decision signals that Bally’s proposed development at the former golf course site in Ferry Point — now known as Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point — has cleared the second-to-last major hurdle in a multi-year licensing competition.

With the board’s vote, Bally’s now moves on to a final review by the New York State Gaming Commission. If approved — as expected — it would mark one of the first full-scale casinos in New York City outside of traditional racetrack-style gambling.

Bally’s has proposed a large resort-style complex at Ferry Point, which reportedly includes a 500,000-square-foot casino, a hotel, and entertainment venues — a project that, if built, would likely be the largest private development in Bronx history.

The approval has triggered a mix of optimism and worry across local communities. Proponents welcome the potential jobs and fiscal impact, describing the casino as a long-overdue economic opportunity for the Bronx.

But critics warn that the project could degrade the quality of life for local residents: increased traffic, worries about crime and addiction, potential strain on infrastructure, and concerns that projected benefits may fall short of promises.

Some community-level opposition had previously blocked zoning approvals — but that setback was overturned by a mayoral veto earlier this year, allowing the project to resume.

The board’s approval marks a historic turning point for New York City — potentially ushering in a new era of large-scale casinos in boroughs long untouched by resort-style gambling. For decades, casinos in New York State had been concentrated upstate or limited to racetracks.