Key Highlights
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- On April 28, Genting Resorts World launched NYC’s inaugural full-service casino in Queens, adjacent to Aqueduct Racetrack
- The venue now features live dealers for Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Poker, expanding beyond its slots-only format since 2011
- This marks the first of three authorized gaming facilities to commence operations, with Bally’s Bronx and Hard Rock Metropolitan scheduled for 2030 debuts
- The launch represents the initial phase of a massive $5.5 billion transformation that will ultimately encompass 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, over 30 dining establishments and 2,000 hotel accommodations
- Hip-hop icon Nas headlined the inaugural celebration following extensive advocacy campaigns and regulatory proceedings that concluded with three casino permits issued in December 2024
Gaming enthusiasts in New York City can now enjoy authentic casino table games without venturing beyond city limits. Genting Resorts World inaugurated the metropolis’s first comprehensive gambling facility in Queens on April 28.
Situated alongside the Aqueduct Racetrack, which faces closure, the venue transforms a location that has hosted only slot machines since 2011.
Visitors can now experience genuine table gaming with live dealers presiding over Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Poker. The complete casino atmosphere with professional croupiers is now fully operational.
Resorts World Queens stands as the inaugural establishment among three facilities recently granted authorization by New York’s Gaming Commission. The regulatory body distributed these coveted permits last December.
The remaining two approved venues—Bally’s facility in the Bronx and Steve Cohen’s Hard Rock Metropolitan, also situated in Queens—anticipate launching operations by 2030.
Massive $5.5 Billion Transformation Underway
The present launch constitutes merely the opening phase of an ambitious expansion plan. The comprehensive reimagining of the Aqueduct property commands an investment of $5.5 billion.
Upon completion, the destination will boast 6,000 slot machines alongside 800 gaming tables. The complex will additionally showcase more than 30 culinary venues and accommodate guests in 2,000 hotel suites.
Queens native rapper Nas headlined the ceremonial launch event, performing his classic track “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” for attendees.
Patrons present at the opening conveyed enthusiasm about finally accessing an authentic casino within city boundaries. One gambler informed the New York Times that the energy surpassed other gaming venues specifically because of the New York City environment.
Another player noted that the community had anticipated this development for an extended period. They emphasized that few people prefer traveling two hours to reach gambling facilities.
Lengthy Campaign of Advocacy and Legal Challenges
The journey toward authorized casino operations in New York City proved extensive and complex. State regulators initially approved full-scale gambling establishments within city limits in 2013.
What ensued was a prolonged period of political advocacy, legal disputes and public debate. Major players from the global gaming sector competed intensely for one of merely three available authorizations.
Industry titans including Wynn’s Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International entered the competition. These corporations invested tens of millions in lobbying initiatives.
High-profile endorsements became significant factors throughout the selection process. Nas, Jay-Z and civil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton numbered among prominent figures supporting different proposals.
The rivalry intensified due to the restricted availability of just three permits for the entire New York City metropolitan area. Each competitor recognized the city as an enormous untapped gaming marketplace.
Community members and elected officials engaged in protracted discussions about the advantages and concerns associated with introducing casino gambling to the city. The deliberation attracted international attention from the gaming sector.
New York’s Gaming Commission ultimately granted the three authorizations in December 2024. Resorts World executed the swiftest timeline to launch live table gaming operations on April 28.
