Resorts World Is Ready to Deliver for New York State Without Delay
With local and state officials now reviewing proposals for downstate casino licenses, officials face a critical question: which projects can deliver real results — not years from now, but right now?
Among the applicants Resorts World New York City is not starting from scratch. It is already operating employing 1,000 New Yorkers in union jobs and has already generated billions of dollars for education. Its bid represents a turnkey option — shovel-ready and capable of launching table games within six months of approval. In a moment when every dollar and job counts, that matters.
Resorts World’s $5.5 billion proposal would transform its existing Queens property into a fully integrated resort and world-class destination for entertainment, gaming, dining, hospitality, and community use. The vision includes more than 1,600 new hotel rooms, an expanded gaming floor with hundreds of table games and thousands of slot machines, dozens of global dining destinations, more than 10 acres of public green space, and large-scale meeting and event space — making it one of the most significant private economic development investments in New York State history.
Just as important is how fast that transformation can happen. Because Resorts World already operates on-site, construction can begin without delay, bringing with it 5,000 union construction jobs and a surge of economic activity in a historically underserved community. Full-scale gaming operations could begin within six months, unlocking new streams of revenue for the state, the MTA, and surrounding communities almost immediately.
This speed-to-market advantage is matched by a deep commitment to equity and community investment. The expanded facility would support more than 5,000 permanent jobs, increasing Resorts World’s current workforce five-fold, with more than half of those roles expected to be filled by Queens residents. Thanks to partnerships with organized labor, the company already pays a median annualized salary of $80,000, which comes out to $150,000 when you factor in benefits. These aren’t just jobs — they’re pathways to stability and long-term opportunity for working families.
Since opening in 2011, Resorts World has been a reliable economic partner to New York. The company has generated more than $4.5 billion for the state’s public education system, supported major transit investments, and consistently stepped up in moments of crisis. When Hurricane Sandy pummeled New York City, Resorts World served as a key relief staging ground for emergency responders. During the pandemic, it hosted one of the city’s largest COVID testing sites and provided meals and PPE to frontline workers. Resorts World has built real trust in the community, not just by promising, but by showing up when it has mattered most. The Queens Economic Development Corporation, where I began my career in 1979 and was the Executive Director from 2009 until my retirement, has been one of the many partners throughout this borough to work with Resorts World New York City. I know my successor, Ben Guttmann, is as committed to continuing the economic development we have worked toward over more than a decade.
That community connection is at the heart of the proposed expansion. Just look at the Resorts World Innovation Campus, which would include a Health and Wellness Center, a Queens STEAM Institute, and the Jet Center led by NBA champion, Queens native, and Archbishop Molloy product Kenny “The Jet” Smith — Resorts World is planning with Queens, not just for it. Even Queens-born hip-hop legend Nas has joined the effort, lending his voice to a new campaign video that captures the spirit of the proposal. “In Queens, the future is now,” he says. That isn’t just a slogan but a reminder that the community is ready for progress and deserves a partner who can deliver it without delay.
As officials consider the options before them, let’s make sure that project readiness is prioritized. Resorts World New York City offers something no other proposal can: the ability to move immediately, to generate revenue from day one, and to deliver lasting benefits for Queens and for all of New York.
This is a moment for bold investment and proven performance. And it’s a moment Resorts World New York City is poised to meet — not years from now, but right now.
Seth Bornstein is Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation.
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