Resorts World New York City has officially opened a new gaming floor with 242 live table games in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and ceremonial first roll of the dice hosted by Genting Chairman KT Lim. Another floor with 2,507 commercial casino slots also opened at the same time. The casino becomes the first to offer full table games with dealers in NYC after becoming approved by the NYS Gaming Commission last year.
First opened in 2011, Resorts World had been an all-electronic casino with over 5,000 slot machines including 1,300 electronic table games.
Hip-Hop legend and RWNYC partner NAS, elected officials, community partners, and company leaders were all on hand for the milestone event which marks the first time live table games have ever operated in New York City and cements RWNYC’s place in the history of New York’s gaming and hospitality landscape.
“With Chairman Lim’s first roll of the dice, we celebrate a milestone that took nearly 15 years of hard work, strong partnerships, and an unwavering belief in what this property could become for New York,” said Robert DeSalvio, President, Genting Americas East. “Live table gaming is officially open in New York City for the first time ever, and on day one we are contributing to the State’s economy, supporting jobs, and giving back to New Yorkers. With our planned $5.5 billion expansion, this is only the beginning of something much bigger for Resorts World and for New York.”
More than 240 table games including blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette were debuted on a newly reimagined gaming floor alongside more than 2,500 new commercial slot machines placed on the second and third floor of the existing Aqueduct Facility. The number of tables and commercial slot machines will double with the progressive opening of the ground and first gaming floors later in the year. The launch represents a defining moment not only for Resorts World New York City, but for the entire state, as the facility begins a new chapter of gaming and entertainment while continuing its role as a major economic engine. The combination of live games and slot machines has created the first-ever full casino experience in New York City.
The addition of live table games is the first component of RWNYC’s $5.5 billion investment in the 72-acre Aqueduct site. Future plans include a new 7,000-seat multipurpose entertainment venue, new hotel and more than 12 acres of new public green space. Beyond the site, RWNYC has proposed a $2 billion community benefits package, with a commitment to build up to 50,000 units of workforce housing across the five boroughs, and a $100 million infrastructure improvement package.
“After years of careful planning and dutifully navigating the state gaming license process, Queens has officially hit the jackpot with today’s opening of Resorts World’s expansion. From providing top-tier entertainment to investing billions of dollars in benefits into our communities to creating thousands of good-paying union jobs for our neighbors, Resorts World continues to go above and beyond when it comes to making a positive impact in our borough,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Today marks a momentous step forward in boosting the economic vitality of South Queens, and I congratulate our partners at Resorts World on today’s milestone.”
With the launch of live table gaming, RWNYC immediately adds incremental economic activity to New York State through new gaming tax revenue, expanded employment, and increased visitor spending. RWNYC is expected to generate hundreds of million dollars for the MTA through its $500 million license fee, and new tax revenue for the MTA, as well as additional amounts for the State public education system, adding to the $5 billion that RWNYC has delivered since launching in 2011.
RWNYC is already one of the largest employers in Queens, and the live table gaming floor expands that footprint further with hundreds of new positions across gaming operations, hospitality, and support services. In early April, RWNYC began a series of orientation sessions for the 1,250 new employees, onboarding them ahead of the live table game launch. The facility currently has 2,200 employees with 500 more expected by this summer.
Two other casinos are expected to open in NYC in the Bronx and next to Citi Field sometime in 2030.
