Caesars Times Square casino bid pledges $5 million to LGBTQ+ health center

The team behind the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square casino has pledged $5 million to support LGBTQ+ health services in New York City if its bid for one of three downstate gaming licenses is approved.

Backed by real estate developer SL Green, Caesars Entertainment, and Roc Nation, the $4 billion project would redevelop the Viacom and MTV Studios office building at 1515 Broadway into a casino resort in the heart of Times Square. The proposal is currently under review by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board.

As part of its community benefit commitments, the developers announced that $2 million would go to bolster existing services at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in Chelsea, while $3 million would help fund a new Center for Excellence in Sexual Health in nearby Hell’s Kitchen. The new 20,000-square-foot facility would aim to expand access to high-quality, rapid HIV and STI care.

“With this funding, Callen-Lorde’s express clinic model will offer rapid, same-day test results [for sexually transmitted infections] and immediate treatment through an in-house retail pharmacy, reducing the typical 72-hour turnaround to just one hour,” said Patrick McGovern, CEO of Callen-Lorde.

The Hell’s Kitchen center would feature check-in kiosks, self-swab stations, and on-site lab equipment capable of delivering rapid STI results for over 15 patients at a time, McGovern added. The facility is intended to serve the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on efficiency, confidentiality, and inclusivity.

“At SL Green, we believe that vibrant neighborhoods are built on strong institutions, and Callen-Lorde is exactly that,” said Brett Herschenfeld, Senior Vice President at SL Green. “This state-of-the-art facility will dramatically improve access to rapid testing and treatment for New Yorkers most at risk.”

The proposed casino has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters include more than 200 businesses, unions, and community groups, including the Actors Equity Association, which argues the project will bring jobs and improve safety. The casino design reportedly includes a limited number of restaurants and hotel rooms, intended to drive traffic to existing neighborhood businesses.

However, opposition remains vocal among many in the Broadway community, including the Broadway League, TDF, The Shubert Organization, and several theater unions, who cite concerns about congestion and potential disruption to the local economy.

Caesars Palace Times Square is one of several proposals vying for the three downstate licenses, with other bids focused on sites in Queens, the Bronx, and Lower Manhattan. Two competitors - Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands - have recently withdrawn from the process.

The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to issue its final decisions by the end of 2025.