New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s dreams of a casino next to Citi Field took a huge step forward. The City Council approved a zoning change by a 41-2 margin that would give a 50-acre parking lot the go-ahead to become a public space that would include a casino, 25-acre public park, shopping, restaurants, bike paths, and more.

The City Council has approved New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s ambitious plan to transform the Citi Field parking lot into a vibrant casino and entertainment complex.

The City Council is poised to approve the zoning changes Steve Cohen needs to build his casino complex next to Citi Field, but the billionaire Mets owner is still waging an uphill battle to get matching approvals at the state level in order to have a shot at a lucrative casino license.

Steve Cohen is a man on a mission, determined to bring a casino to New York City. The billionaire owner of New York Mets has long had his sights set on building a casino near Citi Field, where the Major League Baseball team plays their home games. Now he is putting some tangible numbers on what it will cost for such an endeavor.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 41-2 in favor of zoning changes for Steve Cohen's proposed "Metropolitan Park" casino complex next to Citi Field.

The proposal still faces hurdles in the state Legislature as part of a protracted casino license review process.