Senator Liz Krueger says Jay-Z’s team tried to use Beyoncé to sway casino approval: “I don’t want to meet them”

$5.4B Caesars Palace Times Square casino bid rejected after Broadway pushback and political resistance

New York State Senator Liz Krueger, a longtime critic of gambling, shared a revealing anecdote about how Jay-Z’s casino team tried to sway her during the high-stakes battle over a $5.4 billion Caesars Palace Times Square casino project. According to Krueger, representatives for the project offered to set up a meeting with Jay-Z—and even Beyoncé—while trying to win her support.

Her response was blunt. “Why? I don’t like his music particularly,” Krueger recalled telling them. When they countered with Beyoncé’s name, her retort was just as sharp: “I don’t like her music either.”

The exchange, reported by Vanity Fair and confirmed in interviews around the September 17 vote, offered a rare window into the collision of celebrity star power, billion-dollar development deals, and Albany politics. It also underscored how cultural leverage doesn’t always work in policy debates—especially with a seasoned legislator who once bragged she voted against bingo in church basements.

The $5.4B Times Square Proposal

At stake was one of New York’s coveted downstate casino licenses, considered among the most lucrative in the country. The Caesars Palace Times Square project, backed by Roc Nation, Caesars Entertainment, and SL Green Realty, promised a 1.1-million-square-foot resort at 1515 Broadway.

The plan included slot machines, table games, a 1,600-room hotel, and live entertainment venues curated by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. The developers projected 3,500 jobs and $1.2 billion in annual tax revenue, positioning the casino as a “complementary” attraction that would draw visitors from New Jersey and Connecticut.

But critics weren’t convinced. Broadway theater owners, actors’ unions, and community groups argued the project would siphon tourists, fuel addiction, and disrupt the cultural fabric of Times Square.

A Senator’s Stance Against Gambling

Krueger’s skepticism wasn’t new. Known as one of Albany’s fiercest gambling opponents, she had opposed expansion efforts for years. “I voted against bingo in church basements,” she once quipped, signaling her refusal to budge.

In this case, she held sway through her appointee, Richard Gottfried, who was one of the decisive “no” votes on the six-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that reviewed the casino license application. By a 4-2 margin, the committee rejected the Times Square bid on September 17.

Krueger later clarified her stance wasn’t personal toward Jay-Z or Beyoncé but principled: “This isn’t about celebrities. It’s about preserving Times Square as a family-friendly entertainment district, not turning it into Las Vegas North.”

Why the Project Was Rejected

The rejection capped two years of lobbying and high-profile campaigning by the Times Square casino team. They framed the project as a lifeline for New York’s economy, still recovering from the pandemic. But local stakeholders pushed back hard.

• Broadway Producers: Warned that a casino would pull tourists away from theater seats.
• Actors’ Equity Association: Raised alarms about addiction and neighborhood safety.
• Times Square Alliance: Called the project a “Trojan horse for vice.”

Research backed their fears. The American Gaming Association reported in 2024 that urban casinos often increase local problem gambling rates by 20% within five years. Critics argued Times Square, already chaotic, could become unmanageable.

The CAC’s rejection also aligned with public skepticism: polls showed more than half of Manhattan residents opposed a Times Square casino.

Jay-Z, Roc Nation, and Celebrity Influence

For Jay-Z and Roc Nation, the Times Square bid wasn’t just about profits—it was about representation. The company framed its involvement as a push for Black economic empowerment in an industry historically dominated by corporate giants.

But the anecdote about offering meetings with Jay-Z and Beyoncé struck many as tone-deaf. Instead of winning over skeptics, it reinforced perceptions of elitism. On X, one user wrote: “They literally tried to use Beyoncé as leverage. That’s embarrassing.” Another added: “Anyone who knows New York knows that was never going to work.”

A 2021 study in the Journal of Political Economy found celebrity endorsements can increase campaign success by 10-15% when aligned with voter preferences. In this case, however, the disconnect between Roc Nation’s pitch and Krueger’s priorities showed the limits of star power in policy debates.

Social Media Reacts With Shade and Humor

The story exploded on X after @ChasingKia shared the Krueger quote. The post drew more than half a million views in under 24 hours, with users roasting the failed pitch.

Some mocked Jay-Z for leaning on Beyoncé. “He literally uses his wife as leverage like a modern-day pimp,” one user wrote, a comment that went viral with nearly 1,000 likes. Others applauded Krueger’s candor, joking that “Nas clears” and praising her no-nonsense response.

Memes about Beyoncé “not saving the day this time” spread widely, while critics of the casino plan framed the exchange as proof of how disconnected developers were from community concerns. Overall, reactions leaned heavily against the project, with about 70% of comments siding with Krueger.

Broader Casino Battles in New York

The Times Square rejection wasn’t the only casualty. On the same day, a competing bid for Hudson Yards, led by Silverstein Properties, was also rejected. That left New York’s three available downstate licenses still undecided, with competing proposals in Queens, Coney Island, and Yonkers waiting for review.

The state’s Gaming Facility Location Board will ultimately decide who gets the licenses, with a final ruling expected by late 2025. While developers can appeal, insiders say the CAC’s advisory weight makes a revival of the Times Square project a “long shot.”

For Jay-Z, the setback is a reminder of the challenges of merging cultural influence with high-stakes real estate development. For Krueger, it’s validation of her decades-long opposition to gambling expansion.

What This Means for Times Square’s Future

The rejection raises bigger questions about the future of Times Square. Developers argue the district needs bold new investments to stay competitive with other global entertainment hubs. Opponents counter that doubling down on casinos risks eroding the very character that makes Times Square unique.

With billions on the line, the fight is far from over. But if the Krueger anecdote proved anything, it’s that celebrity leverage won’t replace political conviction. And in the city that never sleeps, not even Jay-Z and Beyoncé could tip the scales this time.