Resorts World New York City has expanded again, reopening the first floor of its commercial casino and adding 1,400 slot machines less than three months after becoming the city’s first full-scale casino with live table games.

The latest expansion lifts the property’s total to 3,900 slot machines, giving the Queens venue more capacity as demand continues to grow. Company executives expect the additional machines to increase gross gaming revenue while generating more tax revenue for New York State.

The new gaming space features Dragon Den, a themed area with 114 Aristocrat games. It includes 48 Dragon Link machines and progressive jackpots, including a top prize of $1 million.

“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,” said Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East. “With these 1,400 new games, we will be able to accommodate more patrons and generate even more in taxes for the state.”

Resorts World strengthens position after historic New York City launch

The first-floor reopening builds on momentum created in April, when Resorts World officially became New York City’s first casino to offer live dealer table games. Blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette debuted after the property transitioned from a long-running racino that had previously operated only slot-style video lottery terminals.

That launch followed the awarding of new downstate casino licenses, allowing Resorts World to become the first approved project to begin operating as a full casino. Competing developments planned for Queens and the Bronx remain several years from opening, giving the property an early advantage in the market.

The current expansion is also the opening step in a much larger redevelopment. Resorts World plans to invest $5.5 billion in transforming the site into a fully integrated resort by 2030. The completed project is expected to include a 350,000-square-foot gaming floor with 6,000 slot machines, 800 live table games, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, 2,000 hotel rooms and more than 10 acres of public green space.

Company officials say the casino already produces close to $1 billion in annual gross gaming revenue. Since opening in 2011, the property says it has contributed more than $5 billion to New York’s public education system.

Future commitments also include $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a $2 billion community benefits package.

The Queens property remains New York City’s only casino-hotel, featuring the 400-room Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York City alongside restaurants, bars, meeting facilities and entertainment venues. The company says it welcomes around 5 million visitors annually as it continues expanding toward its long-term integrated resort vision under operator Genting Group.

Featured image: Resorts World

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