Resorts World opens first full casino in New York City
Resorts World New York City is poised to make history on 28 April with the opening of New York City’s first live table games casino, pending final approval from the New York State Gaming Commission. The debut represents a landmark moment for the state’s gaming industry.
New York City has never hosted a commercial casino until now. This opening signals the city’s entry into a new era of legalised, regulated gaming. The transformation of racinos into full casinos mirrors decades of legislative evolution in New York State.
Regulation and oversight
The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all legal gambling in the state, including casinos and sports betting, as well as horse racing, lotteries, and charitable gaming. It ensures integrity, issues licences, enforces compliance, and directs revenues to public programmes.
The new casino will operate at Resorts World’s Queens property beside Aqueduct Racetrack. In December 2025, the operator was among three finalists chosen by the Gaming Facility Location Board for a full casino licence.
This award is designed to transform racinos like Resorts World New York City into integrated resorts, maximising tax revenue, job creation, and community benefits while reshaping the city’s entertainment landscape. Genting Americas East has submitted a $7.5 billion plan to expand the Queens site into the largest integrated resort in the United States.
Other contenders include MGM’s Empire City in Yonkers and several Manhattan-based proposals, each promising major investments and community contributions.
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— NYS Gaming Commission (@NYSGamingComm) March 30, 2026
Economic contributions
Gross gaming revenue is projected to climb from $1 billion to $2.2 billion annually by 2027, with an upfront licence fee of $600 million. Expected contributions include $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $2 billion for public education between 2026 and 2029, and $506 million to support the state’s racing industry, according to the Gaming Commission.
Pending legislation on online casino expansion proposes a 30.5 per cent tax on gross online casino revenue, alongside licencing fees of $2 million per operator and $10 million per platform provider.
Gaming and entertainment offerings
The redesigned third floor will feature 240 live table games, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette, across more than 1,500 gaming positions, complementing the property’s 2,500 slot machines. Moreover, hotel capacity will expand from 400 to 2,000 rooms, while a new 7,000-seat multipurpose arena will host concerts and large-scale events.
Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, said the company is ready to begin operations once regulatory testing is complete, calling the launch “a turning point” in the property’s evolution into a full-scale integrated resort.
Employment and community impact
The rollout has already created about 1,250 new jobs, including 950 table game dealers. Dealer training and gaming education initiatives also helped prepare hundreds of local residents. Total employment now exceeds 2,200 and is expected to surpass 2,700 by summer.
Long-term plans include up to 50,000 workforce housing units, a Resorts World Innovation Campus, and a $100 million infrastructure package. Additionally, from construction to operations, the project is estimated to generate 24,000 jobs.
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