Resorts World NYC is set to debut live table games, becoming the city’s first full-scale casino and gaining a multi-year head start on competitors.
Resorts World New York City is rolling out live table games next week, marking a significant milestone in the years-long process of bringing full-scale casino gaming to New York City, effectively making the property the city’s first and only full-scale casino for several years.
According to the New York Post, the operator is targeting an April 28 launch for its expanded gaming floor. It will include 200 tables, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette.
New York City has never seen anything like what we’re planning for April 28,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East.
“Once final testing is complete, live table games will be open and operating right here in Queens for the first time in the history of New York City.”
Resorts World received one of three downstate casino licenses in December 2025. The other two are Bally’s Bronx at the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point and Steve Cohen-backed Metropolitan Park adjacent to Citi Field in Flushing.
During the licensing process, Resorts World actively promoted and leaned on a mid-2026 opening for the first phase of the conversion from a slots-only racino to a full-scale casino.
Resorts World’s Head Start
Unlike the other winning bids, Resorts World holds an advantage due to its already-operating facility next to Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. The racino has operated since 2011 and has already generated a significant tax revenue for the state.
Next week’s launch marks the first step of the expansion and includes:
- Approximately 200 live table games at launch
- Around 1,250 new jobs, including roughly 950 dealers
- A workforce of 2,200, with expectations for it to exceed 2,700 employees by summer
“We are proud to be creating more than a thousand new jobs while taking a major step forward for this property. This is a transformational moment for Resorts World New York City, and we cannot wait to share it with our fellow New Yorkers,” De Salvio said.
Following the first phase, Resorts World will continue the full build-out with a 2030 target. Once completed, the $5.5 billion project will be among the biggest casinos in the U.S. It will include:
- Up to 800 live table games and 6,000 slot machines
- 2,000 hotel rooms
- A 7,000-seat entertainment venue
- Over 7,000 parking spaces
- Over 30 dining outlets
- Over a dozen acres of community greenspace
Three Licenses, One Early Mover
The New York downstate licensing process took several years to complete. In 2022, the state legislature authorized the start of the process to award three downstate casino licenses.
Over a dozen candidates expressed interest, with several, including Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, dropping out before the June 2025 application deadline.
Eight hopefuls submitted applications, including projects backed by gaming giants such as Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Mohegan Gaming, Hard Rock International, Bally’s Corporation, and Genting (owner of Resorts World). Despite being considered a frontrunner, MGM Resorts withdrew its application late in the process.
In December 2025, the New York State Gaming Commission awarded the three licenses to Resorts World, Metropolitan Park, and Bally’s.
Unlike Resorts World, the other two projects are starting from scratch. Both have indicated a target completion date around 2030. Metropolitan Park will feature approximately 5,000 slot machines and 375 table games, while Bally’s plans on approximately 3,500 slots and up to 250 table games.
The 2030 target opening date positions Resorts World as the sole operational full casino in New York City for close to four years, giving it an advantage over the rest.
Financial Impact
The downstate casinos are expected to create a significant economic impact. Resorts World alone has already contributed roughly $5 billion to New York’s education system since opening its racino.
As part of the application requirements, each bid must pay a $500 million license fee and commit to at least $500 million investment. In an attempt to secure a license, Resorts World agreed to pay a $600 million license fee, with all three finalists investing billions in the projects, generating thousands of jobs.
Resorts World has also pledged $2.5 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over the next four years through licensing fees and tax payments. The sum would exceed the agency’s $1.8 billion budget in that timeframe.
Analysts project strong revenue potential for both the state and operators.
A 2025 Spectrum Gaming Group estimate that the area’s gross gaming revenue would reach $6.5 billion by 2031. Meanwhile, a recent analysis from CBRE Institutional Research estimates the market to generate between $4.7 billion and $5.8 billion by 2031.
Both Spectrum Gaming and CBRE’s estimates place New York City as the second-largest gaming market in the U.S., only behind Las Vegas, highlighting the scale of the market that Resorts World will effectively test largely on its own in the coming years.
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