Resorts World Pitches Biggest New York City Casino
Posted on: July 22, 2025, 11:42h.
Last updated on: July 22, 2025, 11:52h.
- Genting says Queens casino could convert to largest in the city
- Venue could open in a year if it wins a downstate casino license
In a Monday pitch before a community advisory committee (CAC), Genting said its Resorts World New York would have the largest casino floor of any of the proposals for downstate gaming licenses and if it’s granted one of those permits, the venue could convert to a Las Vegas-style casino and be open for business as soon as July 2026.
Currently, a slots-only property located in Queens, Resorts World New York, along with MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino in Yonkers, is widely viewed as one of the frontrunners to win one of the three licenses New York regulators are expected to award by the end of this year.
The $5.5 billion proposal would transform the 73-acre Aqueduct site into the single-largest entertainment hub with a 5.6 million-square-foot integrated resort, allowing for 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat arena, more than 7,000 parking spaces, more than 30 food and beverage outlets, a magnificent spa and more than a dozen acres of community green space,” according to a statement issued by the operator.
Given the number of slot machines and table games Genting is forecasting for the Queens property — assuming it’s awarded a downstate permit — it would likely be one of the largest casinos in the country.
Resorts World Timeline Could Be Attractive to CAC
The CACs, which were formed earlier this month, are tasked with evaluating each of the eight bids for the three licenses. Those committees will make recommendations to the New York Gaming Facilities Location Board (GFLB).
It’s possible that the Genting presentation was greeted favorably by the relevant CAC based on what would be a quick conversion timeline. That underscores an advantage held by Resorts World New York and Empire City. Unlike rival bidders, those venues wouldn’t be built from the ground up. Rather, they’d be enhanced if they win one of the downstate permits.
The quick conversion timeframe would position Resorts World to beat competitors to the tax-generating punch, something that could be viewed favorably by the CAC because local and state revenue needs are drivers of the casino competition. For its part, the Genting property, which has already been a steady contributor to state coffers, could direct another $1 billion or more per year in taxes to New York if it becomes a Las Vegas-style casino.
“Best of all, this once-in-a-generation project could be open as early as July 2026. All land-use approvals have already been granted, and the company is ready to start construction the day it receives a license,” according to the press release.
Resorts World New York Would Be a Jobs Creator
One of the most frequently used selling points by the companies vying for the New York City-area casino permits is the creation of jobs. It’s a relevant argument to make given that the city’s jobless rate, though heading in the right direction, is above the national average at 4.8%. Genting says the Queens property would be a significant jobs generator if it can convert to a traditional casino.
It will create up to 24,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue for the state and Mass Transit Authority (MTA) while providing a raft of benefits for the community that Resorts World has called home since 2011,” the operator added in the press release.
Genting didn’t say how many of those jobs would be attributable to temporary construction needs and how many would be permanent roles.
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