Resorts World NYC Adds 1,400 Slots, Breaks Ground on Next Phase of $5.5 Billion Expansion

Resorts World New York City has added 1,400 slot machines to its casino floor as its $5.5 billion expansion moves forward, with the property also breaking ground this week on the next phase of the project. The additions arrive just months after the casino completed its transition into New York City’s first full-scale commercial gaming property.

The new machines are housed in a first-floor gaming area that includes a Dragon Den section featuring 114 Aristocrat titles and 48 Dragon Link machines. Owned by Malaysia’s Genting Group, Resorts World New York City is racing ahead of two other newly licensed New York City casino operators by leaning on the head start it already has as an existing gaming property.

A Casino Already Cashing In

Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, said the expansion reflects overwhelming demand at the Queens property. “Since the moment we opened, our slot machines have been incredibly popular with the public, generating more than $230 million in gross gaming revenue in just 11 weeks,” DeSalvio said. “With these 1,400 new games, we will be able to accommodate more patrons and generate even more in taxes for the state.”

That momentum has only accelerated since Resorts World launched live table games on April 28, completing its shift from a racino into a full commercial casino. New York State Gaming Commission data shows table game gross gaming revenue more than doubled in that span, climbing from about $4.9 million in the first reporting week to more than $10.4 million in the week ending July 12. Weekly slot revenue held steady in the $20 million to $22 million range over the same stretch, while combined weekly gaming revenue rose from $27.2 million to roughly $30.8 million — evidence that table games have driven the bulk of the recent growth.

Phase Two and the Race for NYC Gaming

Wednesday’s groundbreaking kicks off Phase Two of the redevelopment, which includes a 400-room hotel tower and a 7,000-seat entertainment venue. The long-term plan for the site ultimately calls for a 350,000-square-foot casino floor with 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, the entertainment venue, and more than 10 acres of public green space. Once finished, the property is projected to become the largest casino in the United States.

Resorts World currently employs about 2,200 people, and the expansion is expected to add another 500 to 2,700 jobs by the end of summer. Officials project the fully built-out casino will generate $10.8 billion in state and local tax revenue over its first decade of operation. Genting has also pointed to more than $5 billion contributed to New York’s public education system since the property opened in 2011, along with ongoing commitments of $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a $2 billion community benefits package.

Resorts World isn’t the only New York City casino project moving forward. The New York State Gaming Commission also awarded full licenses to Steve Cohen and Hard Rock for the Metropolitan Park complex near Citi Field in Queens, and to Bally’s for a casino at Ferry Point in the Bronx. Bally’s acquired the Ferry Point site for $157 million in February and recently filed construction permit applications, with the project targeted to open in 2030. Metropolitan Park began pre-construction work in February, though reports in May indicated the project has fallen several months behind schedule, even as developers maintain the 2030 opening timeline still stands. Both rivals will need years to open new properties, giving Resorts World a substantial head start in New York City’s rapidly growing commercial casino market.

The buildout also underscores how quickly the broader U.S. casino industry is expanding beyond traditional strongholds, a trend bettors can track through online casino reviews covering operators now competing for market share across new jurisdictions.