Resorts World New York City has taken an early lead in the changing New York casino market.
The Queens property, located at the former Aqueduct Racetrack site, became the first of New York City’s three new downstate commercial casino licensees to begin full commercial casino operations. And it has already broken ground on phase 2 of the expansion plan.
Its conversion from a video lottery terminal venue into a casino with live table games has created an immediate advantage over the two other licensed projects, which are still years away from opening.
For casino players, local residents, and the wider New York gaming industry, the difference is significant. Resorts World NYC is already generating gaming revenue and expanding its casino floor, while Hard Rock Metropolitan Park in Queens and Bally’s Bronx continue through development, financing, construction, and permitting stages.
Resorts World NYC Becomes New York City’s First Full-Scale Commercial Casino
Resorts World New York City sits at Aqueduct Racetrack. It had long operated as a video lottery terminal, or VLT, facility. Its new commercial casino license allowed it to add live dealer table games and operate as a full-scale casino.
The project moved through New York’s state approval process last year, including:
- The Resorts World New York City Community Advisory Committee unanimously advanced the proposal on Sept. 25, 2025.
- The Gaming Facility Location Board unanimously selected the project for licensure on Dec. 1, 2025.
- The New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved the commercial casino license on Dec. 15, 2025.
The license approval placed Resorts World in the same group as Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Bally’s Bronx. However, Resorts World held a major advantage because it already had an operating gaming property and existing infrastructure at Aqueduct.
That head start allowed Resorts World NYC to move from VLT gaming into commercial casino gaming more quickly than the other two developments.
Resorts World NYC Adds Live Table Games and Expands Its Slot Floor
Resorts World New York City ended its VLT operations in April.
The initial casino offering included more than 2,500 slot machines and over 240 live table games. Players could access casino staples such as blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette.
The opening changed the competitive picture for every future New York casino project. Resorts World NYC was no longer simply an established electronic gaming venue. It became the first licensed downstate commercial casino to offer both slot-style gaming and live dealer table games inside New York City.
By July, the casino reportedly added about 1,400 additional slots on its reopened first floor. That expansion pushed the property’s total slot count to roughly 3,900 machines while its table-game inventory remained near 240 tables.
Resorts World NYC Revenue Shows Early Strength in the New York Casino Market
Resorts World NYC’s early financial performance has reportedly made it the top-grossing commercial casino in New York since its commercial launch.
Through late August, the property had generated approximately:
Early weekly gross gaming revenue reportedly landed in the $27 million to more than $30 million range, with slot machines and electronic table games producing most of the early revenue. Table-game revenue has also become a meaningful part of the casino’s performance as live dealer operations mature.
Those numbers matter beyond a single property. A high-revenue New York casino can add substantially to statewide tax collections, supplier activity, hospitality employment, and tourism spending. Resorts World NYC’s operating results will also give state officials, developers, and investors a real-world benchmark for what the downstate market may support once all three licensed properties are open.
Aqueduct Redevelopment Brings Major Changes to the Queens Property
Although Resorts World NYC already operates as a commercial casino, its larger redevelopment plan is not finished.
The full project is expected to be a roughly $5.5 billion integrated resort redevelopment. Future phases are expected to include hotel capacity, entertainment space, additional gaming positions, dining and hospitality options, and public green space.
Full completion has been targeted for around 2030 or 2031. That means the current casino is best understood as the first stage of a broader transformation of the Aqueduct site.
The site’s transition also affected racing. Aqueduct Racetrack’s live racing reportedly ended in June 2026 as the property shifted its focus toward the expanded casino, resort development, and other planned site uses.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park Targets a 2030 Opening Near Citi Field
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park is the second Queens-based New York casino project approved by the state. The development is planned near Citi Field at Willets Point and is being developed by Queens Future, LLC, involving Steve Cohen’s ownership group and Hard Rock International.
The proposed development is substantially larger than a traditional casino property. Plans have included:
- An approximately $8 billion to $8.1 billion integrated resort.
- A Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
- A reported gaming floor with around 5,000 slot machines and 375 table games.
- About 1,000 hotel rooms.
- A 5,650-seat entertainment venue.
- A food hall, restaurants, bars, and other hospitality options.
- Roughly 25 acres of planned public green space.
- Transit and pedestrian-access upgrades near the 7 train.
The project has targeted a June 2030 opening, but early construction scheduling has reportedly faced delays. Test piling reportedly began on one parking structure, while major casino construction and full vertical development had not yet started as of late August 2026.
That does not necessarily mean the project will miss its target date. Still, large urban developments often face permitting, infrastructure, design, legal, and construction challenges that can affect schedules.
Bally’s Bronx Casino Project Moves Forward at Ferry Point
Bally’s Bronx is the third licensed downstate New York casino project. It is planned for Ferry Point in the Bronx, near the Whitestone Bridge, on the former Trump Golf Links site that later operated as Bally’s Golf Links.
The official state page identifies the project location as 450 Hutchinson Parkways in the Bronx. Bally’s Bronx received a 5-1 vote from its Community Advisory Committee on Sept. 29, 2025, followed by unanimous selection from the Gaming Facility Location Board on Dec. 1 and unanimous commercial license approval from the Gaming Commission on Dec. 15.
Bally’s has described the development as a major single-phase resort project and potentially the largest privately funded development in Bronx history. Earlier plans included:
- A casino with approximately 3,500 slot machines.
- About 210 table games, plus poker.
- A 500-room hotel.
- A roughly 2,000-seat event center.
- Restaurants, bars, entertainment, and parking.
- Continued park and golf-related features around the site.
- The project has generally targeted a mid-2030 opening, often described as summer or June 2030.
Bally’s has reportedly taken important steps toward development, including acquiring a key 16-acre parcel from New York City for approximately $156.6 million and filing construction permits for a 19-story complex. However, the company’s broader financial position remains a key issue to watch. Large casino developments require extensive capital, and financing progress could play a major role in whether Bally’s meets its development timeline.
What the Future Holds for the New York Casino Market
Resorts World New York City has a clear first-mover advantage. It is already open, already generating commercial casino revenue, and already expanding its gaming floor.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Bally’s Bronx could eventually create a much more competitive three-casino downstate market. Each project is designed as more than a gambling venue. The plans combine casinos with hotels, entertainment, food and beverage, parking, public-space improvements, and community-benefit commitments.
Still, the market will not be fully formed for several years.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Bally’s Bronx are greenfield projects, meaning they must be built from the ground up in dense urban environments. Resorts World NYC, by contrast, began with a working gaming property and an established customer base at Aqueduct.
That contrast could give Resorts World a valuable opportunity to build loyalty, strengthen its brand, and capture a large share of the New York casino market before its direct competitors open their doors.
New York City Casino Market Will Continue to Evolve
Resorts World New York City is currently the defining story in the downstate New York casino market.
The property secured its commercial casino license in December 2025 and became the first of the three licensed projects to operate as a full commercial casino in 2026. Its live table games, expanded slot inventory, and early revenue results have created a strong head start.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Bally’s Bronx remain major long-term developments with ambitious 2030 opening goals. If both projects stay on schedule, New York City could have three full-scale commercial casinos by the end of the decade.
Until then, Resorts World NYC stands alone as the operating New York casino with the strongest immediate impact on the city’s gaming landscape.
