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A big week for gamblers is in the cards.
New York City’s first-ever full-fledged casino offering live table games will open next Tuesday — at Resorts World next to the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens.
Queens-bred rapper Nas will attend the ribbon-cutting and ceremonial throw of the first dice after Genting-owned Resorts World was one of three bidders awarded a state license last December to offer live table games.
Resorts World, a Malaysian-headquartered company, has been licensed to operate slot games at its facility for more than a decade — but will now be able to offer 200 live table games such as blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette on its renovated third floor.
“New York City has never seen anything like what we’re planning for April 28,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East.
“Once final testing is complete, live table games will be open and operating right here in Queens for the first time in the history of New York City. We are ready to welcome New Yorkers to this exciting new experience.”
The expansion adds 1,250 new jobs, including 950 new table-game dealers, most of whom completed training over the past week.
In total, Resorts World now employs 2,200 people and is slated to grow to more than 2,700 workers by summer.
“We are proud to be creating more than a thousand new jobs while taking a major step forward for this property. This is a transformational moment for Resorts World New York City, and we cannot wait to share it with our fellow New Yorkers,” De Salvio said.
Genting Chairman KT Lim will also join Nas, along with numerous elected officials and community leaders at the grand opening.
When the casino project is fully completed, Resorts World will have:
- — 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, for a total 10,800 gaming positions
- — A total of 2,000 hotel rooms, building on the 400 existing units at its Hyatt Regency
- — A new 7,000-seat multipurpose concert hall
- More than 12 acres of new public green space, a full Day Spa and an Innovation Campus anchored by the sports Jet Center named after Queens hoops legend Kenny “The Jet” Smith.
Resorts World, which has operated as a slots parlor since 2011, has delivered $5 million in tax revenues to the state education system.
The company had clear advantage in the bidding process to obtain one of three state casino licenses because it has the facility already to offer live table games in a matter of months.
The two other winning bidders must build new casinos from scratch, which will take years.
One of the other licensees is New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park, who are planning a gaming complex near Citi Field in Flushing.
The other is Bally’s, which will open a casino on the property of President Trump’s former golf course at Ferry Point near the Whitestone Bridge—a move that would net the Trump Organization $115 million.
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