The HOV might get caught on the hook.
The union representing the majority of Broadway theater employees wants to scrap a “blueprint” for a Times Square casino project backed by rapper Jay-Z.
“A casino in New York would add a new dimension to New York City’s vibrant entertainment industry, but locating it in the middle of Theater District would be a mistake,” the International Union of Stage Employees told The Post in a statement.
“Casinos are independent and designed to keep patrons on-site for as long as possible,” the union added.
“Meanwhile, our iconic Theater District and Broadway are still recovering from the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The luxury casino at 1515 Broadway in the heart of Times Square is being developed by SL Green, Caesars and billionaire rapper Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation.
But there is growing resistance to the idea of gambling establishments on the Great White Way.
A survey released in May found that a whopping 71 percent of voters living in or near Times Square oppose a casino at the “Crossroads of the World.”
The poll, Coalition Against Times Square Casino This includes the influential Federation of Broadway Theatre Owners.
“Having a casino in Times Square is not going to increase attendance at our venues,” said Karl Mullert, national business agent for IATSE Local 829, which represents thousands of stage, lighting and costume designers and other workers.
Traffic, already a “problem,” would be worse in tourist areas, he said.
“It’s already so crowded, we don’t want it to get any bigger,” Mullert said. “It’s not good for Broadway.”
Both the Actors Guild and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 are supporting the casino’s bid.
Brett Hershenfeld, executive vice president of SL Green, said his union members agree that “new gaming and entertainment venues will strengthen the theater industry.”
“They are joined by the Building and Construction Labor Council’s 17 local unions who support Caesars Palace Times Square and believe the new entertainment venue will bring strong, good-paying jobs to New York City,” Hershenfeld said in a statement.
The Times Square casino plan is just one of several big-money-backed projects in and around the Big Apple.
Others include a proposal by Mets owner Steven Cohen to open a venue near Citi Field in Queens, Related Companies/Wynn to open a gambling facility at Hudson Yards and Thor Equities and Partners’ proposal for Coney Island.
These proposals have also faced community and political opposition.
State gambling regulators expect to award up to three licenses in the New York City area by the end of next year, with the winning bidder required to pay the state a minimum license fee of $500 million.
