Resorts World NYC receives overwhelming public support in first casino license hearing

Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) received strong backing from civic leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations during its first public hearing for a full commercial casino license held on Wednesday, August 20, at Queens Borough Hall. The hearing, attended by over 40 speakers, marked a key moment in RWNYC’s bid for one of three downstate casino licenses authorized by state legislation.

The hearing was convened by the Resorts World New York City Community Advisory Committee (CAC), chaired by Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato. Other committee members include Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Community Board 10 Chair Betty Bratton, State Senator James Sanders, Stevens Martinez representing Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, and NYC DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia.

RWNYC opened in 2011 at 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard as the city’s only video lottery terminal casino. Since then, it has positioned itself as a community partner in southeast Queens, supporters said at the meeting. Its proposed $5.5 billion expansion would convert the existing 73-acre property into what its parent company, Genting Americas, describes as a global entertainment hub. 

The project envisions 500,000 square feet of gaming space, 6,000 slots and electronic table games, 800 live table games, a 7,000-seat multi-use arena, 2,000 hotel rooms, a STEM innovation center, and 3,000 units of workforce housing. An estimated 10,000 direct jobs would be created, half of them permanent union jobs, alongside 14,000 additional indirect and induced roles.

During the hearing, elected officials, including Council Member Nantasha Williams and Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson, endorsed the project, highlighting the casino’s contributions to local job creation and economic development. Anderson, however, called for stronger community investment outside the casino’s footprint.

“Resorts World has done well, the property looks great, and the proposal is outstanding; however, we want to see more investment directly into physical infrastructure in the surrounding community,” Anderson said.

He proposed a $140 million community investment fund and called for support services related to addiction and mental health. “We know gambling is an addictive sport, and we’d like to see physical in-community assets. Assets that represent the casino in the community, not on the casino property, but a footprint in the community. I believe that $140 million community investment fund would do just that,” he added.

Williams pointed to the partnership between Resorts World and York College as an example of workforce development benefiting the local population. “The jobs created by Resorts World bring real economic benefits to our neighborhoods. Residents gain stable employment and opportunities for career growth,” she said.

Several community institutions echoed this sentiment. Representatives from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Flushing Town Hall, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, and Queens Centers for Progress all spoke of the casino’s longstanding philanthropic engagement.

Jamaica Hospital CEO Bruce Flanz described how the casino’s donations have supported clinical programs, including trauma care, hospice, emergency medicine, and cancer services. “By awarding Resorts World this license, you will be contributing to the growth of our community by creating thousands of jobs and opportunities,” Flanz said.

RWNYC has contributed nearly $5 billion in taxes since 2011 and invested $1.1 billion in its physical infrastructure. Its charitable arm, RW Gives, has distributed close to $10 million to community programs. 

Kevin Jones, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer of Genting Americas, highlighted the site's potential to launch full operations in a short amount of time. “We have the fastest speed to market of anyone, and we have the ability to open in six months from licensure, by next summer. We’re talking about a head start of up to five or more years on the ground-up sites," he stated.

Ahead of the licensing decision, Resorts World has unveiled new workforce initiatives. On September 16, the company will open the Resorts World Career Center at Jamaica Station, offering walk-in access to employment information from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. 

A parallel program, the Resorts World Dealer Experience Center, will operate within the casino’s grand lobby, providing a two-hour seminar and outlining a 10-week training program for aspiring casino dealers. Sessions will be held from Tuesday to Saturday at three different time slots.

The casino also plans to launch a free “Intro to Gaming Operations” program in collaboration with CUNY/York College, furthering its push to build a local talent pipeline. Genting executive Robert DeSalvio described the integration of gaming, hospitality, and entertainment as “that special sauce embedded in our DNA.”

The August 20 hearing was the first of two CAC public sessions, with the next scheduled for September 15. With Resorts World and MGM’s Empire City as the only already-operating facilities competing for licenses, their operational track record gives them a potential advantage, industry analysts say. RWNYC, in particular, has committed to starting operations with full-scale Class III gaming by July 2026, more than a year ahead of other proposed developments.

“New York City’s next frontier of work is here and it’s gaming,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech. “With the state considering up to three new downstate casino licenses, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow our economy and create thousands of middle-class jobs in the communities that need them most.”

Genting is also reshaping its upstate footprint. On August 15, its subsidiary Empire Resorts agreed to sell portions of Resorts World Catskills’ real estate assets, including hotels, a golf course, and entertainment venues, for $525 million to the Sullivan County Resort Facilities Local Development Corporation. The transaction is expected to reduce debt and consolidate land ownership for further development.