After following the NYC casino license distribution case, BonusFinder, an online casinos comparison site, reveals the latest on one of the successful licensees, Resorts World NYC.
The New York-based Resorts World has officially cut the ribbon on the first phase of its 'integrated resort' expansion, with 242 live tables and over 2,500+ slot machines now available to customers.
The opening marked a historic moment for New York City, with live blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette offered to locals for the first time.
Unveiling the product comes just five months after the retail gambling operator successfully acquired a New York casino license, and $5.5bn was announced to be spent on the renovation project.
The addition of live table games is particularly notable; until now, New Yorkers had been forced to visit New Jersey, Connecticut or venture beyond city lines to participate in dealer-hosted entertainment.
This also marks a crucial step for Resorts World in its upcoming, unavoidable battle with fellow licensees, Bally's and Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park. Both operators also received licenses from the New York Gaming Commission, in December 2025, but neither are forecast to welcome customers to their respective greenfield projects before 2030.
Being the first to move is an enviable advantage – the Genting-owned casino benefits from early opportunities to capture an eager loyal New York City audience.
Big targets must be met in NYC
In November, the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) visited all three New York casino license bidders in order to ascertain first-hand scale, budgets and revenue expectations.
According to the board, Resorts World's internal expectations "significantly" exceeded figures calculated by analysts and consultants.
Similar escalatory projections and commitments were consistent throughout the operator's licensure bid. Resorts World vowed to pay $100m more in license fees than the $500m required; promised substantial tax commitments worth more than double the value proposed by either rival; and set aside $2bn for community and workforce funding, bringing the total project cost to $7.5bn.
And, while third-party estimates have suggested that Resorts World can commit $1.8bn in tax revenue to the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), the operator set a $2.5bn goal.
It's also worth noting that Resorts World had marketed a March 2026 launch during the GFLB visitation in late 2025. Expectations quietly shifted over the next several months, culminating in the April opening.
Whether a similar roadmap course change occurs here remains to be seen.
Confidence high as prominent voices praise Resorts World opening
The opening ceremony was attended by Genting Chairman KT Lim, hip-hop artist Nas and a vast group of elected officials representing New York.
Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio lauded the determination of his team, explaining that this occasion was over a decade in the making:
"With Chairman Lim's first roll of the dice, we celebrate a milestone that took nearly 15 years of hard work, strong partnerships, and an unwavering belief in what this property could become for New York.
"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. With our planned $5.5bn expansion, this is only the beginning of something much bigger for Resorts World and for New York", said DeSalvio.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr touched on the positive impact Resorts World could have on local job creation – 500 additional roles are expected to become available by summer – and the nearby community:
"After years of careful planning and dutifully navigating the state gaming license process, Queens has officially hit the jackpot with today's opening of Resorts World's expansion. From providing top-tier entertainment to investing billions of dollars in benefits into our communities to creating thousands of good-paying union jobs for our neighbors, Resorts World continues to go above and beyond when it comes to making a positive impact in our borough.
"Today marks a momentous step forward in boosting the economic vitality of South Queens, and I congratulate our partners at Resorts World on today's milestone."
Meanwhile, Chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. – who also stands as a major advocate for online casino legalization in New York – echoed the compliments of his peers:
"I have stood with Resorts World through every step of this process because I believed in the vision and I believed in their promise to Queens, given their 15-year record of delivering. Today that promise is fulfilled. The jobs are here, the investment is here, and the positive impact on our community starts with the first hand dealt and the first roll of dice."
Further expansion to see 1,000+ new games installed
Once complete, Resorts World New York City is expected to house 800 live tables, 6,000 slot machines and 2,000 hotel rooms spread across a 5.6-million-square-foot complex.
Further, rapid expansion is expected soon, with the number of table and slot games to "double" when doors to the new ground floor and first floor are unlocked before the year's end.
Other relevant amenities expected to be manufactured include a 7,000-seater entertainment complex with 7,000 parking spaces, as well as 30 dining options. A new gaming floor, accessibility measures and premium suites are also on the docket.
However, a GFLB application analysis document outlines that Resorts World is targeting "completion of the expansion in 2029", with "full project" execution by 2031.
If those estimates are accurate, Resorts World will virtually match Bally's and Hard Rock in terms of final timescale – if not exceed the windows provided by both firms.
Whether the operator's sky-high expectations are realized is unclear but, as stated by Chairman KT Lim, funding does not stop now:
"We do not build and walk away. We invest and we stay. We are all in," said Lim.
Lim partook in a ceremonial first throw of the dice to get the ball rolling at Resorts World NYC, which saw the 74-year-old thrust his fist into the air upon hearing the result.
Similar scenes involving players will be exclusive to Resorts World over the next several years, as the operator seeks to take full advantage of its first-mover independence before competitors enter the fray.
