Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is a video-lottery casino and harness-racing venue in Yonkers, New York, just north of the Bronx. Its main appeal is combining machine gaming with horse racing within reach of New York City. The trade-off: this is a regional racino, not an MGM resort with an attached hotel and live-dealer tables. I see it as a better fit for a few hours of gambling or a scheduled race night than an overnight casino getaway.
Empire City Casino: Quick Facts
| Address | 810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Video-lottery casino and racetrack |
| Operator | MGM Yonkers Inc., an MGM Resorts International subsidiary |
| Minimum gambling age | 21; bring valid government-issued photo identification |
| Casino gaming | Video lottery terminals and electronic gaming |
| Other wagering | Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering |
| Live-dealer table games | No in its existing racino format |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Telephone | 914-968-4200 |
| Official website | Empire City Casino |
What Kind of Casino Is Empire City?
Empire City combines an electronic casino with Yonkers Raceway. The machines make it a regional gambling stop; the harness track gives visitors a reason to do something other than move from one screen to another.
The casino floor opened in 2006, according to Yonkers Times. That marks the start of the machine-gaming operation, rather than the property’s much older racing history.
MGM operates Empire City through its subsidiary, MGM Yonkers Inc., identified in the operator’s Empire City newsroom. The familiar MGM name should not set expectations for a Las Vegas-style stay: there is no attached hotel or conventional casino pit staffed by dealers.
My advice is to judge Empire City on its combination of machines and racing. A recognizable operator cannot turn a day-trip casino into a resort vacation. For alternatives, see our guide to New York casinos.
What Happened to the Casino Expansion?
MGM withdrew its application for a downstate commercial casino license on October 14, 2025, according to NY1’s reporting. This concerned the proposed expansion, not a closure of the existing video-lottery casino.
The license application’s executive summary described additional restaurants, a theater, a retail BetMGM sportsbook, and a covered parking garage. Those were proposed additions, not completed visitor amenities. Even the proposed redevelopment did not include a hotel.
If you have seen redevelopment announcements or architectural renderings, keep that distinction in mind. Plan around the operating casino and racetrack, not the broader entertainment complex that was proposed.
Casino Floor: Machines and Electronic Games
Slots and Video Lottery Terminals
Machine gaming is Empire City’s main attraction. Its slot-style games operate as video lottery terminals, often shortened to VLTs. Many look familiar to casino players, with reels, bonus features, and different wager levels, but their regulatory format differs from conventional casino slots.
I would arrive with a preferred game style and a firm budget rather than make the trip for one particular cabinet. Titles and available machines can change. If video poker or a specific electronic game is essential to your visit, check the current lineup before leaving home.
Read the total wager on the screen, not just the machine’s denomination. A low denomination does not necessarily mean an inexpensive spin, and some bonus or progressive features may require additional wagers.
Neither jackpot announcements nor frustrated player comments establish that a machine is generous, overdue, or likely to return your money. Keep food and transportation money separate from what you are prepared to lose.
Electronic Games Versus Live Table Games
Empire City’s existing racino format does not offer a traditional live-dealer table-game pit. Electronic games use screens or automated equipment rather than a dealer running a conventional table.
That distinction matters more than familiar game names. If your ideal evening involves a blackjack dealer, a crowded craps rail, or a staffed baccarat table, this is not the same outing. For electronic games, read the displayed rules, payouts, and minimum wager before playing.
Poker Room
Empire City has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Poker-themed machines and casino games are not cash games or tournaments against other customers.
Sportsbook
Empire City has no on-property retail sportsbook. The BetMGM sportsbook in the withdrawn redevelopment application should not be treated as an operating betting counter. Horse-race wagering is a separate offering, and a mobile betting app does not establish that there is a physical sportsbook inside the casino.
Yonkers Raceway and Harness Racing
The track is the property’s most distinctive feature. Harness racing involves horses pulling drivers in lightweight carts called sulkies, rather than jockeys riding on horseback.
For a group that does not want to spend the whole evening at machines, a scheduled race card adds variety. I would check the racing calendar first and fit casino time around it, rather than arrive and hope live racing happens to be underway.
Confirm the date and first-post time, and distinguish races taking place at Yonkers from wagering on races elsewhere. Casino hours do not establish the live-racing schedule. Keep the race-betting budget separate, too: switching activities should not quietly double your planned spending.
Hotel: No Rooms on Site
Empire City has no on-site hotel. Without an attached room to return to between sessions, an overnight visit takes more planning than a stay at an integrated casino resort.
The property’s area-hotels page is a starting point for separate accommodation. Compare the actual route to the casino, not just the distance on a booking map. A nearby address does not automatically mean an easy walk or an included shuttle.
Compare the complete cost: room, taxes, transportation, and any hotel parking charges. A cheaper room can lose its appeal if every casino visit requires another paid ride.
Restaurants, Bars, and Entertainment
Check current dining venues, menus, and service hours before building a visit around a meal. The restaurant concepts in the withdrawn expansion are not a current dining lineup.
Casino hours and kitchen hours are different things. If a sit-down dinner or a late meal after racing matters, establish where and when you can eat before settling into a long gaming session.
Harness racing is the clearest reason to add something beyond machines to the evening. Other entertainment depends on the event calendar. Do not assume the proposed theater exists or that a show accompanies every casino visit.
Directions, Parking, and Visit Planning
Use 810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 for navigation. Empire City is in Yonkers, just north of the Bronx, not within New York City’s five boroughs.
I would ignore blanket promises of a short drive from Midtown. Your starting point, route, traffic, and departure time matter more than an optimistic travel-time estimate. Allow extra time if you want to catch the first race.
- Driving: Check parking entrances, charges, and valet availability. Do not plan around the garage in the withdrawn proposal.
- Public transportation: Plan the connection to the property itself. Reaching a Yonkers train station is not the same as reaching the casino entrance.
- Late departures: Check the last useful transit connection and likely rideshare availability before playing.
- Hours: Confirm casino hours separately from racing, restaurants, and other services, especially for early-morning or late-night visits.
- Identification: The minimum gambling age is 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Allow for transportation, applicable tolls, meals, drinks, and any parking or service charges in addition to gambling. Obtaining cash beforehand can help avoid a casino ATM expense.
Rewards and Promotional Offers
Ask the players-club desk which rules apply to your play and how to use the card. Do not assume this MGM-operated property’s earning rules, benefits, and offers match those at another MGM casino.
Check eligible dates, required play, redemption deadlines, and dining exclusions. My rule is simple: an offer should improve a trip you already wanted to make, not persuade you to increase your gambling budget.
Who Empire City Is Best For
Empire City suits New York City-area machine players and harness-racing fans who want a straightforward outing rather than a resort stay. Its combination of electronic gaming and scheduled racing gives the visit variety, but separate accommodation and the journey home deserve advance planning. Choose another property if an attached hotel, live-dealer gaming, or a broader non-gambling getaway is central to your trip. The withdrawn expansion should not influence what you expect to find today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Empire City close after MGM withdrew its application?
No. The October 2025 withdrawal concerned the commercial-casino license application and proposed expansion, not closure of the existing video-lottery operation.
Does Empire City have live blackjack or craps?
No. Its existing racino format is electronic rather than a conventional casino floor with live dealers. Check the electronic lineup before traveling for a particular game.
Does Empire City have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. It has neither a dedicated player-versus-player poker room nor an on-property retail sportsbook. Horse-race wagering is a separate activity.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Empire City?
The minimum gambling age is 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Does Empire City have a hotel?
No. Accommodation must be booked separately. Include the cost and inconvenience of traveling between the hotel and casino in your plans.
Is live racing available whenever the casino is open?
No. Live racing follows its own calendar. Check the race date and first-post time before planning a racing-focused visit.
Is Empire City worth visiting if you do not play machines?
A scheduled harness-racing card can provide a reason to go. Otherwise, check the dining and event calendar before bringing someone with little interest in gambling. This is not a full-service resort with a broad range of non-gambling activities.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.