The MTA needs funding. Resorts World NYC is the answer.
The MTA is in a constant state of need to find funding.
Resorts World New York City’s proposed $7.5 billion expansion at Aqueduct will indeed be beneficial for the MTA. The implementation and completion of the Resorts bid will put billions of dollars into the system before others can put a shovel in the ground.
At a time when the federal government is dangling sorely needed transit dollars in New York State’s face, we need the private-sector leadership Resorts World New York City has demonstrated with its plan to improve the largest transit system in the United States. Because they are the only bidder who can put billions of dollars into the system right away.
This relief comes at a time when the list of needs for the MTA is as crowded as the 42nd Street 4 train platform at rush hour. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli rang the latest alarm bell earlier this month by warning that “outyear gaps persist as the Authority faces substantial fiscal uncertainties, led by funding threats from the federal government.” You can play poker in your spare time, but you shouldn’t take high-risk gambles on a system that moves more than 5 million people each day.
Unlike the other proposals that would take years to build from the ground up, Resorts World is the only sure thing that’s ready to go now. Because the project builds on an already operating facility at Aqueduct, they can begin operations as a full-scale casino within just a few months of receiving a license. That’s at least four years sooner than any other proposal. That time matters. While greenfield sites would still be under construction, RWNYC is expected to send $2.5 billion in casino tax payments and fees just to the MTA in between 2026 and 2029. That figure is well over the $1.8 billion the MTA projected to collect for casino revenue over that same period of time.
But moving faster than the super express isn’t the only advantage. Resorts World upped the ante in their supplemental bid submission last week by becoming the only bidder to offer a $600 million license fee – $100 million on top of what is required by the state. That’s not just a windfall. Nor is it a commitment. That’s leadership.
Every dollar of that license fee would go directly to the MTA’s operating budget, meaning that it would help maintain train frequency, keep buses running on time, and offset the need for fare hikes on working straphangers. In a moment when the MTA’s financial stability is uncertain, Resorts World is offering the fastest, largest, and most reliable investment in transit operations on the table.
We know Resorts World can do it, too, because of their commitment to New Yorkers with their proposal. The company has proposed a 56% tax rate on slots and 30% tax rate on table games, which is significantly higher than what anyone else has proposed. Those tax rates are more than figures, but a demonstrated commitment that Resorts World’s success should be shared with every New Yorker who (for now) swipes a MetroCard.
The project’s broader impact also extends to transit access itself. Resorts World New York City has committed significant funding for improvements to the Aqueduct Racetrack A train station, which serves as the gateway for visitors, workers, and communities alike. This commitment reflects an understanding that a world-class integrated resort should enhance, not strain, the infrastructure around it. Strengthening a key link on the A line directly benefits the local community in southeast Queens while improving the rider experience for thousands who already use that station every day.
New Yorkers cannot wait for this kind of support for our mass transit system. Comptroller DiNapoli warned that the MTA must identify significant savings and increase ridership. Without these cost-cutting measures or a balanced budget, he argued, the MTA is staring down an operating gap of $345 million in 2027, $354 million in 2028, and $428 million in 2029. Resorts World New York City can effectively fill that gap with an immediate $600 million windfall, followed by billions in new, incremental revenue in the years to come. You don’t have to be an accountant to realize this is a no-brainer.
Instead of simply asking transit workers to do more with less or scrambling to find savings, New York State should do everything in its power to get this economic development off the ground. If we’re going to expand Metro-North to Albany, expand options with the Interboro Express, or even ensure the current ridership they’ll arrive at their destination on time, we need the dollars Resorts World New York City has promised the MTA right now.
Senator Leroy Comrie represents New York’s 14th Senate District and serves as Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions.
