Resorts World New York City will open a 30,000-square-foot floor with staffed table games on Sept. 1 after securing New York State Gaming Commission approval, making it the first full commercial casino operating inside the five boroughs.
Resorts World New York City will offer live table games for the first time since the Queens property opened in 2011, with a Sept. 1 launch that follows the state’s decision to lift limits tied to its racetrack roots. Operator Genting Group is activating a first-level floor that seats 240 players across multiple pits and plans to add more tables later in September as training and demand allow.
The rollout brings blackjack, roulette, craps, and other staffed games to a venue that previously relied on electronic tables and video lottery terminals. Genting’s staged approach is designed to maintain service levels while the property shifts into full casino operations.
This year the New York State Gaming Commission authorized traditional table games, expanded slot play, and sports betting for Resorts World and MGM’s Empire City Casino in Yonkers, moving both properties closer to full-scale commercial status. Resorts World will now operate the broadest casino offering available within New York City as state officials weigh three additional downstate licenses.
Preparing the workforce centered on the East Silver Star dealer school in Hillside, Queens, which Resorts World established to train table game personnel. The company says every position on opening day will be filled by program graduates, with hiring focused on nearby neighborhoods to support local employment goals.
President Scott Molina called the launch a key step in the property’s development plan and noted that new table games should support higher-wage dealer roles. Staffing additions will continue through September, with management tracking performance metrics to set the pace for further expansion.
Genting has not detailed construction changes tied to the table rollout. The operator has discussed the possibility of adding a hybrid retail and mobile sportsbook but has not set a timeline, keeping attention on dealer readiness, procedural testing, and integrating live games with surveillance and compliance systems ahead of the September opening.
The launch comes as the state prepares to accept final proposals for three downstate commercial casino licenses by Aug. 4, 2025. Caesars Palace Times Square reiterated its bid plans, and Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady promoted Joe Benanati to senior vice president and general manager while naming Shannon MacAdam as compliance chief, underscoring the broader competitive positioning underway.
By getting live tables on the floor ahead of those licensing decisions, Resorts World New York City gains first-mover advantage within the city. How quickly it can scale beyond the initial phase will help determine whether it keeps that lead as new entrants emerge.
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