Already in operation as a “racino,” Resorts World New York City (RWNYC), set 10 minutes outside JFK International Airport in Queens and 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan, got initial approval for one of three city casino licenses on December 1. The license allows for live table games in addition to the thousands of video-gaming terminals and slot machines the facility presently offers.
If the New York State Gaming commission grants final approval for the facility’s license on December 31—a very likely scenario—RWNYC will become a full Vegas-style casino by April 1, 2026.
In addition, RWNYC will move forward with a $5.5 billion physical investment in the 72-acre site, home to the soon-to-close Aqueduct Racetrack. A central element of the plan: Adding 1,600 hotel rooms to complement the 400-room Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World. By comparison, the largest hotel in New York City is the 1,980-room New York Hilton Midtown.
That new hotel inventory will include a Crockford's Hotel & Conference Center, mirroring the Resorts World Las Vegas property.
Other elements to come by 2029: A new 500,000-square-foot gaming floor with 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, for a total of 10,800 gaming positions; a 7,000-seat multipurpose entertainment venue; and more than 12 acres of public green space.
In a press release, RWNYC officials noted that the project is expected to generate new revenue for New York State between 2026 and 2029, including $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and $2 billion for the state’s public-education system.
Further, RWNYC’s proposal includes a commitment to build up to 50,000 units of workforce housing across the city; build the Resorts World Innovation Campus, featuring a sports and media complex; start a community investment fund; and start a $100 million infrastructure improvement package.
Lastly, if the license is granted on December 31, RWNYC will begin hiring up to 2,000 employees for a March start date.
