The Winner is You: Resorts World’s NYC Grand Opening

By Matt Speakman,
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

A die-hard fan of the Patriots, Matt Speakman is an expert on everything related to sports betting and DFS sites. Over the years, he has proven a valuable asset for our team at online-gambling.com. You can find Speakman's professional tips and tricks in any of his many articles on the website.

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Last updated: May 18, 2026

The sun sets on New York’s race for casino licenses

After many years of proposals and competing with other casino projects, Genting has opened a Class III Resorts World casino in Queens. Residents won’t need to travel to New Jersey to play legal casino games, as several other casinos will open in 2030. Read on to learn more about Resort World.

Resorts World Opening Day

Genting’s Resorts World opened the first phase of its $5.5 billion renovation to the public on April 28, 2026. It currently offers 240 table games and 2,500 slots. On launch day, Genting’s executive chairman, Lim Kok Thay, was there to roll the first die. Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, is certain the casino will contribute to New York’s economy.

“Live table gaming is officially open in New York City for the first time ever and on day one we are contributing to the state’s economy, supporting jobs and giving back to New Yorkers.”

Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East

While the original plan was to launch in June, Resorts World utilized empty space to complete the first phase of its renovation ahead of schedule. The rest of the casino will be built over the coming years, with the current plan to have 800 tables and 6,000 slots by 2031.

Road to Resorts World

Resorts World NYC is one of the three winners of the long race for New York’s downstate casino licenses. It succeeded because the space was already an established racino popular among the citizens. Additionally, Genting made huge proposals exceeding the Gaming Facility Location Board’s expectations, like:

• A $600 million license fee, $100 million more than the state’s bar
• Projecting $2.5 billion in tax revenue
• Increasing its workforce and community commitments by $2 billion for a total of $7.5 billion

Genting’s use of a pre-established casino space allowed it to open earlier than the competition’s projects, which are expected to be completed by 2030. Meanwhile, due to its temporary monopoly, it will have to pay higher tax rates of 63% on slots and 30% on tables. These will be reduced to 25% and 10%, respectively, once the other projects are open.

Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park

One of the other winners of the bids was Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park on Willets Point in Queens. Unlike Resorts World NYC, this proposal also involves a complete redevelopment of the area, so it will take longer to be completed. According to the proposal, the redevelopment will include:

• A new soccer stadium for the New York City Football Club
• Accessibility upgrades to the Mets-Willets Point 7-train stop
• 20 acres of new public parks

It will also feature a new Hard Rock casino and is expected to open by 2030. Meanwhile, Hard Rock is busy with its resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s on the site of the former Mirage Hotel and will include a 650-suite guitar-shaped hotel tower. The resort is expected to launch sometime in late 2027.

Bally’s Bronx

Bally’s is the third winner of the license race and will also be opening its casino in 2030. It’s a $4 billion proposal that also aims to create 4,000 permanent union jobs and invest $100 million in parkland improvements. There will also be improvements to the local infrastructure, such as:

• Two new MTA bus stops
• Pedestrian walkways and bike lanes
• Drainage improvements to prevent flooding
• Build an overpass near Lafayette Avenue

Bally’s is also involved in a project in Chicago, which has faced many challenges. Construction was delayed multiple times, and the official casino won’t be able to launch by September 9. That means it will have to extend the license of its temporary casino until the full one is completed by 2027. However, Bally’s is also preparing for a project in Las Vegas.

The Future is Now

Resorts World NYC will get a head start, even with the higher tax rates. While the competition is busy with other projects, Genting will have the chance to earn revenue and establish itself as a quality casino in Queens. The long race for NYC casino licenses is over, and the winners will be the citizens who can try quality games without traveling to other states.