Resorts World NYC Launches Historic First NY City Casino

On April 28 New Yorkers will get their first ever full commercial casino in the Big Apple. It is a historic event, following a lengthy back-and-forth negotiation and bidding process that started way back in 2013. The formal bidding took place across 2024-25, and many ideas were brought to the table, but only 3 bidders got full approval. Resorts World, run by Genting Group, is the first to break ground in New York City, albeit this is just phase 1 of the ambitious integrated casino resort.

For a first phase, the rollout here looks extremely promising. Resorts World is stated to open with over 2,500 slot machines and 240+ gaming tables, which mirrors some of the biggest Las Vegas Strip casinos, and perhaps more poignantly, the big establishments that line The Boardwalk in Atlantic City. It virtually takes away the need for those lengthy drives down through Jersey, or trips to Philadelphia or the tribal casinos scattered across the state anymore. Because the City of New York, from next week, is set to become a big player in the commercial US casino industry, and Resorts World NYC is going to have loads more games and features by year’s end.

NYC Resorts World Phase 1 Launch

The NYC Resorts World Casino operated as a racino for years, with just a handful of slots and electronic table games, but without dealers or that real authentic commercial casino feel. That is going to change from April 28, when Resorts World NYC will open its casino floor, with:

• 2,500+ slots
• 240+ gaming tables
• 1,500+ live dealer positions (across tables)

Sitting on Rockaway Boulevard, it is a stone’s throw from JFK airport, and an ideal location to attract gaming tourists, but without disturbing any local neighborhoods. This was very much part of the procedure during the NYC casino licence bidding wars, when bidders had to win community approval and provide a plan on how they would benefit the city. NYC Resorts World was one of the more obvious choices here, looking back, as much of the infrastructure was already there. It wasn’t like the Caesars Time Square project or other outlandish developments that would have created entirely new entertainment districts.

Who Can Play at the NYC Casino

Expect big queues in the first few weeks of operation, as Resorts World NYC will be the biggest US casino in the Northeast, a good few years ahead of the other 2 NYC casinos. For a while, this will be the only casino in downstate New York City, and it will be open to both New Yorkers, domestic US tourists, and any international visitors – think about the international traffic that passes through JFK.

To get in, you will have to comply with a standard ID check, and you must meet the legal gambling age requirements, which is 21+ in the state of New York. There are no other membership restrictions, and no entry fees to enter the casino. The third floor of the complex will host all the live blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette and thousands of slot machines.

The casino’s launch will provide 1,250 new jobs, including 950 table game dealers, totalling 2,200 with the already existing employees. It is estimated that around 5 million guests pass through the venue annually, which is projected to grow immensely following the launch of the live dealer tables and expanded collection of casino games.

Atlantic City and Other Neighboring Gaming Hubs

Since the 1980s, the default gaming destination for most New Yorkers has been Atlantic City. A 2 hour drive on average, traffic permitting, casino resorts like the Borgata, Ocean, and Hard Rock were the most prominent destinations for gamers in New York. After Atlantic City, you have venues like Parx Casino and Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, and then there are upstate commercial casinos in the state of New York, including Resorts World Catskills and Turning Stone Resort Casino.

For these venues, the opening of a downstate New York City casino is a threat, and one that could divert a significant percentage of their visitors. And thus, it can hit them where it hurts most, in their revenue streams. Sure, the feeling of traveling to a NY tribal casino upstate for a weekend, or a 2-3 hour drive down to Atlantic City to hit historic casinos, cannot be replicated. But think of all the gamers who aren’t looking for those novelties, but would rather pick a casino within their neighborhood than dedicate the time to travel to another.

It has the potential to attract a much larger demographic of players, and possibly catch a percentage of the international visitors in New York – ones who wouldn’t necessarily check into commercial casinos otherwise. Resorts World NYC could really shake up the scene here.

New Jersey Reaction

During the casino bidding process, New Jersey wasted no time in exploring options to extend its commercial casino market. Right now, casinos are only allowed in Atlantic City in the state of New Jersey. However, there is a movement to overturn that ruling, and allow the racinos in Meadowlands and Monmouth to launch commercial casinos. A similar proposal was rejected in 2016, with the public voting around 77% against having landbased casinos outside Atlantic City.

But a lot can happen in 10 years, and now New Jersey lawmakers are floating the idea once again. Only this time, there is a better argument for it as New York looks poised to launch its own landbased casino market and potentially disrupt New Jersey’s Atlantic City hub. The proposal can go to a public vote as early as this year, but recent polls have indicated that public opinion is mixed here. In the meantime, New Jersey continues to be the #1 benchmark for US online casinos, it fully banned sweepstakes last year, and taxes on iGaming and sports betting have been increased to around 19.75% from around 13-15%.

Though it may not be enough to offset the damage New York is about to cause.

Other NYC Casinos in the Works

The other two New York City casinos in the pipeline are the Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Bally’s Bronx. These are set to open around 2030, if all goes to plan. Which means, Resorts World NYC will be the only commercial casino in the city of New York for a good few years, and it can use that advantage to establish itself as the number one spot for gamers. Phase 1 will start soon, and through the rest of this year Genting Group will add to Resorts World NYC’s portfolio of games. But it will get some stiff competition when the other two players enter the market.

Hard Rock Metropolitan Park

The major casino resort which is backed by Hard Rock and Mets owner Steve Cohen, in collaboration with Hard Rock, is going to be near Citi Field. It is expected to include around 5,000 slots, over 375 gaming tables, and a massive entertainment complex that will be difficult to miss.

Bally’s Bronx

Bally’s is planning a full scale casino resort for Ferry Point, launching a casino, hotel and entertainment complex, and a complete waterfront development. Reports indicate that this will have the smallest casino games portfolio, with “just” 3,500+ slots and uyp to 250 gaming tables.

NY iGaming and Resorts World Going Forward

While the commercial casinos are gradually taking shape and Resorts World NYC will jump into the deep water to test the untapped market, New York lawmakers are still holding onto hope that an iGaming bill can be passed. Online casinos are very much the next frontier, and New York is pushing hard to pass iGaming legislation. A new bill was introduced in January 2026, led by State Senator Joseph Addabbo, but there is still resistance. This is very much a recurring theme, with New York continuously asking the question every year since 2022, but as the commercial casinos have now been approved and are set to launch, more focus can be put on the next frontier.

Resorts World NYC is powering forward at full steam. After this first rollout, the commercial casino will continue adding gaming machines, expand table-game capacity, and open new dining and entertainment options. In the long run, Genting Group is eyeing 6,000 slot machines and up to 800 gaming tables. This would probably come to fruition around the same time as the other casinos opening their doors, in 2030. With it, Genting Group would not just build the biggest casino in New York City, but create one of the biggest casinos in the world, easily competing with the largest venues in Macau.