Resorts World NYC Opens Early as Casino Race Turns Real

On 28 April, Resorts World NYC opened the first phase of its full casino at the Aqueduct site, adding 242 live table games and 2,507 commercial slot machines. The launch came earlier than the June timeline previously linked to the project and moved the property into live operation only months after the state licence process reached its final stage.

The opening moves the New York casino race from licensing to live business. New York City residents can now play live table games without travelling to nearby states or upstate casinos. Resorts World also gets an early lead before the other downstate casinos open, giving Genting time to build its customer base and see how strong local demand is.

Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, said live table gaming is now open in New York City for the first time. He also linked the launch to the group’s planned $5.5bn expansion, making clear that this first phase is only part of a much larger buildout at the Queens site.

New York regulators approved Resorts World New York City alongside Bally’s Bronx and Hard Rock Metropolitan Park for downstate casino licences. Resorts World already had a working casino site and an existing customer base. That helped Genting move faster than projects still under construction. The company also offered a $600m licence fee, above the state’s $500m minimum. It also proposed higher tax rates on slots and table games.

For suppliers, staffing companies, and local vendors, Resorts World’s early opening gives the industry its first real look at demand for downstate casino gaming. Companies working with the property can now track customer traffic, staffing needs, and spending patterns as live table games begin operating in New York City. For rival operators, Resorts World also becomes the first benchmark before their own casinos open.

💡 TGJ Take

Resorts World has turned timing into its first advantage. Genting now gets time to understand the market while Bally’s and Hard Rock are still preparing their projects. That matters in casino gaming, where building a regular customer base, hiring dealers, and developing VIP relationships takes time. The company is also committed to high tax rates, which means the property needs strong customer traffic from the start. If Resorts World performs well, it could strengthen New York’s case for expanding the downstate casino market further.