Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) has just made history by becoming the first full casino in The Big Apple.
Located in Queens at the Aqueduct Racetrack, RWNYC celebrated the launch of live table games, like craps, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
The event was highlighted by the presence of Genting's chairman, KT Lim, and famed rapper Nas, a native of Queens. Together, they conducted the first official roll of the dice at the craps table, creating a memorable moment that linked the local community to this significant milestone in the city's gaming landscape.
The casino is expected to significantly boost the economy in the area and support the mass transit system in and around Queens. It's the first of three downstate casino projects that will open.
Aqueduct Goes From Racino to Full Casino
Resorts World New York City first opened in 2011 as a racino—a combination of a racetrack and a casino featuring electronic games.
At that time, New York State did not allow full casinos in the downstate area. However, in late 2025, regulations changed, paving the way for full commercial casinos in the NYC area. RWNYC was prepared to make this leap, as it already had the necessary infrastructure in place.
In December, RWNYC received the green light from the New York State Gaming Commission to expand. In short, Aqueduct Race Track will never look the same.
RWNYC Looks to the Future
The launch of live table games is just the beginning for RWNYC, which has ambitious plans for the future:
- An expansion valued at up to $7.5 billion, aimed at creating a massive resort experience.
- A new gaming floor that could accommodate up to 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games.
- Plans to increase hotel capacity from 400 to about 2,000 rooms.
- A 7,000-seat entertainment arena and more than 30 dining options.
- Enhanced parking, a spa, and community green spaces.
These plans aim to make RWNYC one of the largest integrated resorts in the U.S. outside Las Vegas.
Resorts World New York City Expansion Timeline
Unlike the other two approved downstate casino projects—Bally’s in the Bronx and Hard Rock/Metropolitan Park near Citi Field in Queens, both of which are brand new builds and not expected to open until around 2030—Resorts World is expanding an existing licensed facility. This allowed RWNYC to launch table games within months of receiving final licensure in December 2025, providing it with several years of exclusivity as NYC’s only full casino with live tables.
Here's an overview of the tentative expansion timeline for RWNYC:
Phase 1: Launch of Live Table Games (Completed)
Date: April 28, 2026
What Opened: Over 240 live table games, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette, as well as thousands of slot machines (over 2,500 slots at launch). This marks the shift from a racino to New York City’s first full-fledged casino with traditional dealer-run table games. The launch occurred ahead of earlier projections, thanks to existing infrastructure at the Aqueduct Racetrack site.
Upon opening, the casino doubled its workforce to over 2,200 employees, with plans to add thousands more as the project progresses.
Full $5.5 Billion Integrated Resort Expansion
The overall project represents a $5.5 billion transformation of the ~73-acre site into one of the largest integrated resorts in the U.S. outside Las Vegas. Key long-term features include:
- Up to 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, totaling over 10,800 gaming positions.
- Expansion towards 2,000 hotel rooms, building on the existing ~400-room Hyatt Regency.
- A 7,000-seat entertainment arena.
- Over 30 dining options, a spa, a large meeting space, enhanced parking with more than 7,000 spaces, and more than a dozen acres of public green space.
- Total resort size: Approximately 5.6 million square feet.
Phased Build-Out Timeline
2026 (Current/Immediate Phase): Table games are now live. Additional slots and gaming capacity will continue to expand throughout 2026.
2026–2029/2030: Major construction on the full integrated resort, including new gaming floor expansion, additional hotel towers, an arena, dining, and amenities. This phase will unfold over the next 3–4 years from the table games launch.
Target Completion: Around 2030–2031. Most sources indicate a full build-out targeted for 2030, with some extending to 2031 based on construction progress.
Construction is expected to create thousands of union jobs, with previous estimates citing around 5,000 construction jobs. Permanent operations could support up to 5,000 jobs once complete.
Timelines may shift due to construction, regulatory approvals, or other factors, but the company emphasizes a swift rollout to quickly generate revenue and jobs for New York State.
Impact on New York City and the Casino Scene
Resorts World New York City's transformation is a significant development for the city's casino scene.
As the first mover, RWNYC leads the new era of gambling in the city, ahead of other projects like Bally’s in the Bronx and Hard Rock in Queens, which are expected to be completed around 2030. By being first, RWNYC aims to keep New Yorkers gambling within the city instead of traveling to places like New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the state will gain significant tax revenue from slots and table games.
With live table games now available, Resorts World New York City is not just a win for gaming fans but also a major boost for the local economy and community. This transformation promises to bring excitement and opportunity to Queens and the entire city. As RWNYC grows, it’s set to become a key part of The Big Apple's entertainment and economic landscape.
