Resorts World NYC launches the first full casino with table games in Queens, New York

New York’s gambling landscape changed significantly this week as the longtime Queens slots venue officially transformed into the city’s first full casino with live table games.

The expanded Resorts World New York City, located near the Aqueduct Racetrack and John F. Kennedy International Airport, opened Tuesday with a ceremonial roll of the dice and a newly constructed game room with more than 200 live dealer tables. Blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette are now available along with more than 2,500 slot machines already running on the site.

The opening marks the first time traditional table games have been offered within New York’s borders, a milestone for a market that previously required gamblers to travel upstate or to neighboring states for the experience.

The Queens facility operated for more than a decade as a « racino, » offering only slot-style video lottery terminals. Its transition to a full-scale casino follows the awarding of new gambling licenses, positioning Resorts World as the first of three approved projects to begin operations. Other planned casino developments in Queens and the Bronx are years away.

A bigger vision is taking shape

Company officials say the launch is just the first phase of a much larger plan. The operator, Genting Americas East, has outlined a $5.5 billion expansion that will transform the site into a full resort destination. Plans include a hotel, additional gaming space, restaurants, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue and more than a dozen acres of public green space.

With our planned $5.5 billion expansion, this is just the beginning of something much bigger for Resorts World and for New York,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, according to the Associated Press.

Casino competition in New York is starting to take shape

The opening ceremony drew local officials and members of the public, including rapper Nas, who joined executives in throwing the first dice to mark the launch.

The bill arrives as New York pushes to expand legalized gambling downstate. State regulators approved three casino licenses in late 2025, with the goal of generating tax revenue and economic activity while bringing casino-style gaming closer to the city’s population.

So far, Resorts World has a significant lead. Competing proposals, including an $8.1 billion casino complex near Citi Field and a $4 billion development in the Bronx, are still in the early stages and not expected to open for several years.

Queens Casino takes an early lead in the downstate rollout

This timing gives Queens Casino a unique window as the only full-service gaming venue in the nation’s largest city. Company executives say more table games and slot machines will be added later this year as operations grow.

The debut marks a turning point for New York, where full casino gambling has long been discussed but is now becoming a reality.