Resorts World New York City Opens ‘Experience Center’ Showcasing $5B Vision

Posted on: January 23, 2025, 02:51h. 

Last updated on: January 23, 2025, 03:08h.

Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) opened its “Experience Center” on Thursday, a place where the Queens racino hopes visitors and stakeholders will better understand what’s possibly forthcoming for the Jamaica property.

Resorts World New York City Genting
A rendering of Resorts World New York City should it receive one of the three downstate New York casino licenses. Parent company Genting says it would invest $5 billion to overhaul the current video lottery racino. (Image: Resorts World New York City)

Resorts World is one of many competitive bidders for the three available downstate casino licenses that the New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to award by Dec. 1, 2025. Bids are due to the state agency by June 27.

RWNYC, owned by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group, is considered a front-runner for one of the coveted licenses along with MGM Resorts International.

Genting and MGM are presumably favored because they’ve long been invested in the New York City region. MGM runs Empire City in Yonkers, another racetrack gaming facility that currently can only operate slot-like video lottery terminals (VLTs) and electronic table games.

Resorts World’s unveiling of its full casino learning center highlights a strong, powerful backing of both state and local officials. They include New York Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), arguably the most influential figure in New York politics when it comes to gaming.

Resorts World stands ready to deliver on a promise of historic investment in the Aqueduct site. Now, New Yorkers will be able to physically see how real, impactful, and transformative this project is. This isn’t a pipe dream — it’s a tangible development that will make a positive impact. Let’s not put it off any longer,” Addabbo said Thursday.

Genting’s vision is to invest $5 billion into redeveloping the property to create 350K square feet of meeting, conference, and entertainment space highlighted by “one of the largest gaming floors in the world.”

Gaming, Housing, Hotel, and Special Events

Genting first confirmed a $5 billion investment should it secure one of the downstate licenses in February 2024. Thursday’s unveiling provided more specifics regarding what the overhaul would entail.

The Experience Center features 3D models and video displays showing renderings of the future integrated resort, should it be approved. Along with a casino featuring slot machines, live dealer table games, and a sportsbook, meeting and conference spaces, 30 additional food and beverage options would open.

The number of hotel rooms at Resorts World New York City would quadruple to 2,000 only minutes away from JFK International Airport. A 7,000-seat concert venue and 50 acres of greenspace are also included.

A considerable portion of the $5 billion budget would go toward the construction of 3,000 union-built and labor-financed homes. The residences would be built on the current Aqueduct Racetrack, which will close late next year when racing is consolidated at nearby Belmont Park. The homes would “prioritize families in need of quality, workforce housing.”

Release Highlights Support

In announcing the new Experience Center, which is located within the racino’s primary lobby, RWNYC highlighted its many supporters. The Resorts World NYC release came with quotes from six elected officials.

Along with Addabbo, they included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. (D), Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens), Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Queens), and New York City Councilor Joann Ariola (R-Queens).

The release also featured statements in support from Betty Braton, the chair of Queens Community Board 10, and Seth Bornstein, the executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation.