Resorts World casino opens in New York City
New York City’s first full-scale casino offering live table games opened to gamblers Tuesday, more than a decade after voters approved expanding gambling in the state.
Resorts World, owned by Malaysia-based Genting company, left gaming giants behind Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Caesar Fun And MGM Resorts Obtain one of three new casino licenses.
It was the first to launch because it was already operating a slot and electronic gambling facility that was one of the most profitable in the world. Resorts World New York City is adjacent to Aqueduct Raceway and just miles from John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“We received the license on December 15th and welcome our guests to the new casino floor on April 28th,” Genting America East president Robert DeSalvio said in an interview.
Genting Bhd’s executive chairman Lim Kok Thay, center, meets rapper Nasir “Nas” bin Olu Dara Jones (center right) and Queens borough president Donovan Richards Jr. at the Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) casino in Queens borough of New York, USA, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (third from right) rolls the first dice in the ceremony.
Adam Gray | Bloomberg | Getty Images
To play roulette, craps, baccarat and blackjack, Resorts World has hired some dealers from casinos in other states. But he also runs a dealer college of sorts, training locals to run table actions.
The company says the current expansion has already created more than 1,200 new jobs, with another 500 new hires expected by this summer.
Although it’s not open yet, the company is also building a sports betting site, which will be the first in the city.
“We won the jackpot, Queens!” announced Borough President Donovan Richards at the ceremony opening.
“I’ve always dreamed of Queens being an international entertainment destination and this is definitely a piece of the puzzle,” Richards said.
Hip hop star Nas, who grew up in Queens, is the partner of the project and performed at the opening.
“This is just the beginning. So it’s about to expand and do things that everyone will be excited about. So it’s in Queens,” he told CNBC.
The project has faced criticism as some locals are concerned about a possible increase in crime and traffic as a result of the development.
For now, the casino will have a city monopoly and says it will pay state taxes on 63% of slot revenue and 30% of table game revenue. The company included a clause in its licensing offer stipulating that the tax rate would drop to levels its rivals would pay once they become operational.
It will take years for other casinos to open. Bally’s is building a casino at the Bronx golf course purchased from the Trump Organization. Meanwhile, Hard Rock has teamed up with hedge fund manager and Mets owner Steve Cohen to plan a major development near Citi Field, where the baseball team plays.
The three companies were selected by the state’s gaming commission in 2025 after a years-long process to license them to upstate New York following a referendum approved in 2013.
The state says the three casinos could generate $7 billion in gaming tax revenue over a decade, and CBRE projects annual gaming revenues could reach up to $5.6 billion at maturity under a bull scenario.
“We are changing the landscape of New York forever with a building that will never close,” said Kevin Jones, chief strategy officer of Resorts World New York.
