Resorts World Pitches Plans for $5.5 Billion Resort in New York City

^{Plans for the new Resorts World New York City in Queens after a $5.5 billion overhaul, pending approval of one of New York’s downstate casino licenses. (Rendering: Resorts World New York City / Perkins Eastman)}

Genting shared its plans for turning Resorts World New York Cityinto a $5.5 billion integrated resort to the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for its bid on Monday, laying out its case for why the facility should earn one of New York’s three downstate casino licenses.

Resorts World NYC currently operates as a racino at the Aqueduct Raceway in Queens, where it has been up and running for 15 years. 

Resorts World Touts Financial Impact, Resort Size

After presenting its vision to the CAC, Resorts World NYC issued a press release outlining its plans for a potential resort.

“The $5.5 billion proposal would transform the 73-acre Aqueduct site into the single largest entertainment hub [in New York State] 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 greenspace,” the statement read. 

Beyond the score of the project, Resorts World also focused on the advantages of its' proposal compared to most of the competition.

That includes the fact that Resorts World NYC already has all necessary land-use approvals and that the full casino could be up and running as soon as July 2026.

“When it comes to completion and operational risk, Resorts World New York City stands uniquely as almost risk-free,” Resorts World Chief Legal and Strategy officer Kevin Jones told the CAC. 

Another part of the Resorts World pitch has been the fact that it has already provided extensive benefits to New York as a racino. That includes more than $4.5 billion for the state’s public education fund, $2 billion for the horse racing industry, and $200 million for state lottery operations. 

“What the Community Advisory Committee heard today was a vision for a transformative project that will be a game-changer for this borough, the city, and the state,” Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said in a statement. “Since Resorts World was granted operations of the Aqueduct site in 2010, we have sought to be a neighbor that Queens deserves, providing 1,000 good union jobs, invested millions of dollars into our neighbors, and built everlasting bonds with the community.”

Will Resorts World NYC Win a License?

Resorts World NYC has long been seen as one of the favorites in the race for the three downstate New York casino licenses It is one of only two existing racinos in the mix, alongside MGM’s Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.

But Genting’s proposal isn’t in quite as strong a position as Empire City While the Yonkers facility is the only contender in Westchester – and now the only remaining bid outside of New York City at all – Resorts World NYC has competition in its own backyard. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International are pitching the Metropolitan Park complex adjacent to Citi Field, which has significant momentum after overcoming its own hurdles.

Other top contenders include the Caesars/SL Green proposal for a casino in Times Square, Thor Equities’ project on Coney Island, and Mohegan’s bid to bring a casino to Manhattan near the United Nations.