Resorts World New York City has opened another section of its commercial casino in Queens, adding 1.400 slot machines as owner Genting Group moves forward with a planned $5.5 billion expansion of the property near the former Aqueduct Racetrack.
The newly opened first-floor gaming area increases the casino’s slot inventory to 3,900 machines. The expansion comes less than three months after Resorts World became New York City’s first full-fledged casino with live table gaming.
The property now has more than 240 live tables offering games including blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette across multiple floors. Resorts World had operated as a slots-focused facility since opening in 2011 before receiving approval to introduce full casino gaming.
Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said demand for the casino’s slot offering has been strong since the expanded gaming operation opened.
“Since the moment we opened, our slot machines have been incredibly popular with the public, generating more than $230 million in gross gaming revenue in just 11 weeks,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East. “With these 1.400 new games, we will be able to accommodate more patrons and generate even more in taxes for the state.”
The first-floor opening represents an early stage of a much larger redevelopment that Resorts World plans to continue through the end of the decade.
Casino Floor Expansion Moves Toward 6,000 Slots
Resorts World plans to increase the casino floor to approximately 350,000 square feet by 2030. The completed gaming operation is expected to include 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games.
One feature of the newly expanded gaming floor is Dragon Den, an area containing 114 Aristocrat slot games. The selection includes 48 Dragon Link machines and offers access to a progressive jackpot that can reach $1 million.
The expansion is expected to support further growth in gaming revenue and the taxes generated for New York State. Resorts World currently produces close to $1 billion in annual gross gaming revenue.
Since opening in 2011, the Queens property has contributed more than $5 billion to New York State’s public education system. The casino also reports welcoming an average of approximately five million guests annually.
The venue already ranks among the larger employers in Queens. It had approximately 2,200 employees before the latest phase of development, while the ongoing expansion is expected to create between 500 and 2,700 additional jobs by the end of the summer.
Resorts World has an advantage in the expansion of New York City’s casino market because Genting already operated an established gaming property at the site before receiving a full commercial casino license.
Two other full casino projects are also planned in New York City. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock are developing the Metropolitan Park casino project near Citi Field in Queens, while Bally’s plans a casino at Ferry Point in the Bronx. Those projects require construction of new casino complexes.
Hotels, Arena and Public Space Included in Buildout
The next stage of Resorts World’s development extends well beyond additional gaming capacity.
Plans include a second 400-room Hyatt hotel tower alongside a new luxury Crockfords hotel. The property already has the 400-room Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York City, which opened in 2021.
When the broader development is completed, Resorts World intends to offer a total of 2,000 hotel rooms.
The project also calls for a multipurpose entertainment arena with capacity for approximately 7,000 people. A new central plaza will form another part of the development, while more than 10 acres of public green space are planned across the expanded resort.
Resorts World also intends to complete the Kenny “The Jet” Sports and Media Complex three years earlier than initially scheduled. The facility takes its name from Queens basketball figure Kenny “The Jet” Smith, a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets who later became a television basketball commentator.
Another planned addition is a new parking garage incorporating thousands of solar panels.
The full project is intended to develop the existing casino property into a larger integrated resort combining its expanded gaming operation with hotel accommodation and entertainment facilities.
Expansion Carries Major Financial Commitments
Alongside the $5.5 billion investment in the property, Resorts World has outlined substantial financial commitments connected with the expansion.
The company has proposed a $2 billion community benefits package that includes a commitment related to the development of as many as 50,000 workforce housing units across New York City’s five boroughs. Plans also include a $100 million infrastructure improvement package.
Resorts World’s expansion commitments include $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The project is also expected to provide substantial additional funding for New York’s public education system.
According to the New York Post, the casino anticipates making approximately $10.8 billion in state and local tax payments during the first 10 years following the expansion.