Resorts World Downstate Casino Project Has the Inside Track

Resorts World has officially applied for a downstate casino license in New York, and because it is currently operating New York City’s only slot hotel, located at Aqueduct Racetrack, with nearly 5,500 slot machines and electronic table gaming tables, it is believed it would have the edge for one of three full casino licenses being offered.

Resorts World Ready to Rumble

Resorts World already runs a slot parlor-hotel that also doubles as a horse track and has proposed a massive $5.5 billion project that will occupy some 5.6 million square feet and will transform the area as we know it.

The Malaysian-based company, owned by Genting, has been a critical part of the community for nearly 15 years and looks to expand upon its relationship with a full-blown resort casino, some of whose profits will be reinvested into the community.

“Fifteen years ago, Resorts World made a promise to turn this site into an economic engine for Southeast Queens, New York City, and New York State,” Genting America East President Robert DeSalvio said. “And we succeeded, now generating more casino revenues and taxes each year than any other commercial casino in the U.S. Today is a major milestone for us to propose the world-class Resorts World Integrated Resort and further commit to this partnership and provide new career opportunities and tax revenue almost immediately, as soon as July 2026.”

Should Resorts World be awarded one of the licenses, the gaming floor would be approximately 500,000 square feet with over 6,000 slot machines and 800 table games. An entertainment venue would be constructed with a capacity of approximately 7000 patrons and additional parking for 7000 cars. A 2000-unit hotel would be built to handle it all, and 10 acres of greenspace would be dedicated to the public.

Resorts World has even tapped hip-hop artist Nas, who was raised in the local Queensbridge House, to assist them with the new venture. His newly released video, “It’s About Time,” shows him touring the current facility and contemplating what the future could be if Resorts World obtains the new license.

“The future is not something you wait for. It’s something you build. It lives in the hands of the doers, the dreamers, the people who refuse to stand still,” Nas says in the production. “From our chairman to our newest employees, we are committed to Queens. In Queens, the future is now.”

Senator On RW’s Side

Resorts World is one of the few bidders that can finish quicker than all their competitors because they have a structure in place and have the experience to hit the ground running after operating in the area since 2011.

The state’s public education center has reaped more than $4.5 billion from Resorts World, and it is expected that the MTA will get more than $41 billion from Resorts World fees and revenues in the first five years of receiving a gaming facility license. The company has also promised to expand the workforce from 1000 to 5000 employees across all sectors, including hospitality, food and beverage, security, maintenance, and other fields.

Resorts World has also promised to assist with building 50,000 units of housing for middle-class families.

“Resorts World New York City is committed to quickly addressing the housing crisis many of our employees, neighbors, and everyday working New Yorkers face today,” said Kevin Jones, chief legal and chief strategy officer of Genting Americas, Resorts World’s parent company. “[We] will ensure there is union-financed, union-built, and union-lived in fair housing across the five boroughs. New Yorkers who power this city deserve nothing less, and we are excited to start investing in a solution that delivers for them.”

Lastly, one of the most powerful gaming politicians in New York, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who chairs the Committee on Gaming, Racing, and Wagering, is rooting for Resorts World, and so are many of his colleagues. “Resorts World has consistently shown that they’re a good neighbor and a strong community partner. They’ve been a major economic driver for South Queens, creating jobs and investing in the neighborhoods around them,” Council Member Joann Ariola said. “I fully support their bid and wish them the best of luck, as being granted this license would allow them to create even more jobs and deepen their positive impact on our neighborhoods.”