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Resorts World Pitches Biggest New York City Casino

Genting stated in a presentation to a community advisory committee (CAC) on Monday that Resorts World New York would have the biggest casino floor of any downstate gaming license proposal. If it is awarded one of those permits, the establishment could transform into a Las Vegas-style casino and begin operations as early as July 2026.

At the moment, Resorts World New York, a slots-only establishment in Queens, and MGM Resorts' Empire City Casino in Yonkers are seen to be among the leading candidates to receive one of the three licenses that New York authorities are anticipated to grant by the end of this year.

"The $5.5 billion proposal would transform the 73-acre Aqueduct site into the single-largest entertainment hub with a 5.6 million-square-foot integrated resort, allowing for 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat arena, more than 7,000 parking spaces, more than 30 food and beverage outlets, a magnificent spa and more than a dozen acres of community green space,” according to a statement issued by the operator.

If granted a downstate permit, Genting's projected number of slot machines and table games for the Queens resort would make it one of the biggest casinos in the nation.

The World Timeline of Resorts May Appeal to CAC

The eight proposals for the three licenses are to be evaluated by the CACs, which were established earlier this month.  The New York Gaming Facilities Location Board (GFLB) will receive recommendations from those panels.

Given the rapid conversion timetable, it's probable that the relevant CAC gave the Genting presentation a positive reception.  That highlights one of Resorts World New York's and Empire City's advantages.  Those venues would not be constructed from the ground up, in contrast to other bidders. Instead, if they were granted one of the downstate permits, they would be improved.

The short conversion period would put Resorts World in a position to outperform rivals in terms of tax collection, which the CAC would find advantageous given that state and local revenue requirements influence the rivalry among casinos. For its part, if the Genting facility is turned into a casino a la Vegas, it may send an additional $1 billion or more in taxes to New York annually, as it has already been a consistent donor to state coffers.

“Best of all, this once-in-a-generation project could be open as early as July 2026. All land-use approvals have already been granted, and the company is ready to start construction the day it receives a license,” according to the press release.

New York's Resorts World Would Create Jobs

The generation of jobs is one of the most commonly cited selling arguments by the enterprises competing for casino permits in the New York City area.  Given that the city's unemployment rate, at 4.8%, is higher than the national average despite being on the rise, it is pertinent to make this case.  According to Genting, if the Queens property could be transformed into a conventional casino, it would create a substantial number of jobs.

"It will create up to 24,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue for the state and Mass Transit Authority (MTA) while providing a raft of benefits for the community that Resorts World has called home since 2011,” the operator added in the press release.

Genting did not specify how many of those positions will be permanent and how many would be related to short-term construction requirements.