TLDR
- Genting Resorts World opened New York City’s first full-scale casino in Queens on April 28, next to the Aqueduct Racetrack
- The casino now offers Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Poker after operating as a slots-only venue since 2011
- It is the first of three licensed casinos to open, with Bally’s Bronx and Hard Rock Metropolitan set for 2030
- The opening is phase one of a $5.5 billion redevelopment that will eventually include 6,000 slots, 800 tables, 30+ restaurants and 2,000 hotel rooms
- Rapper Nas performed at the grand opening after years of lobbying and legal battles led to three casino licenses being awarded in December 2024
New York City gamblers no longer need to leave the five boroughs to sit at a real casino table. Genting Resorts World opened the city’s first full-scale casino in Queens on April 28.
The casino is located next to the Aqueduct Racetrack, which is set to close. Resorts World had been running a slots-only operation at the site since 2011.
Now it offers live table games including Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Poker. Dealers are on the floor and the full casino experience is up and running.
Resorts World Queens is the first of three casinos recently awarded licenses by New York’s Gaming Commission. The licenses were handed out in December of last year.
The other two licensed casinos are Bally’s in the Bronx and Steve Cohen’s Hard Rock Metropolitan, also in Queens. Both are expected to open in 2030.
A $5.5 Billion Redevelopment Takes Shape
The current opening is just phase one of a much larger project. The full redevelopment of the Aqueduct site carries a price tag of $5.5 billion.
When complete, the complex will include 6,000 slot machines and 800 table games. It will also feature more than 30 restaurants and 2,000 hotel rooms.
Queens-born rapper Nas performed at the official opening ceremony. He played his hit “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” for the crowd.
Gamblers at the opening expressed excitement about finally having a real casino in the city. One player told the New York Times the atmosphere was livelier than other casinos because of the New York City setting.
Another gambler said people had been waiting a long time for this. They added that nobody wants to drive two hours to reach a casino.
Years of Lobbying and Legal Battles
The road to legal casinos in New York City was long and complicated. State authorities first agreed to allow full casinos in the city back in 2013.
What followed was years of lobbying, legal fights and controversy. Some of the biggest names in the gambling industry fought to win one of just three available licenses.
Wynn’s Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International were among the companies that competed. They poured tens of millions of dollars into lobbying efforts.
Celebrity endorsements played a role in the process as well. Nas, Jay-Z and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton were among the public figures who backed various bids.
The competition was fierce because the opportunity was limited to only three licenses for all of New York City. Each applicant saw the city as a massive untapped gambling market.
Local residents and politicians debated the merits and drawbacks of bringing casinos to the city for years. The process drew attention from across the gambling industry worldwide.
New York’s Gaming Commission finally awarded the three licenses in December 2024. Resorts World moved fastest to get its doors open for live table gaming on April 28.
