New York City's First Full Casino Opens
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- Resorts World New York City in Queens has opened as the city's first full-scale commercial casino, introducing live table games such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette alongside over 2,500 slot machines.
- The casino, located next to Aqueduct Racetrack, has created approximately 1,250 jobs, including 950 table-game dealers trained at an on-site school, and plans to expand with restaurants, a hotel, and an entertainment venue.
- The opening attracted a diverse crowd, from casual players to high rollers, with Queens-born rapper Nas participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and performing at the event.
- While supporters highlight the casino's economic benefits and convenience for local gamblers, critics warn of potential social issues like increased problem gambling, particularly in lower-income and immigrant communities.
- Resorts World is the first of three new casinos licensed in New York City, with Bally's in the Bronx and Hard Rock near Citi Field in Queens expected to open around 2030.
