Dive brief:
- New York’s only casino destination, Resorts World New York City, announced a $5 billion project that would add a 350,000-square-foot casino1,600 hotel rooms and a 7,000-seat entertainment venue at its Queens, New York space.
- RWNYC, which says it is New York State’s largest taxpayer, claims the project would generate hundreds of millions of additional tax dollars for New York as well as create thousands of permanent union jobs when completed, to more than 5,000 union construction jobs during the development of the project. .
- New York state officials authorized up to three casino licenses for upstate New York last April, according to The New York Times. Since then, several casino developers have thrown their hats in the ring as competition heats up to create a Las Vegas-style casino complex in the nation’s largest metropolitan area.
Diving knowledge:
If approved, the RWNYC redevelopment project would create one of the largest casino floors in the world at 350,000 square feet, according to a company statement. It would also add 2 million square feet of entertainment, gaming, retail, dining and convention space.
That’s on top of a facility that’s already a million square feet. Located at the Aqueduct Race Track, RWNYC currently operates approximately 6,500 slot machines and has 400 guest rooms available through the attached Hyatt Regency JFK Airport.
Plans for venue additions also include the Awana Spa and Ayu DayClub, which would feature a curated beverage program and guest DJs.
RWNYC hopes to expand its food and beverage options as well, with concepts from chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Scott Conant.
“Together we hope to capture the beauty and diversity of food cultures that make Queens one of the most exciting places in the world to eat,” Samuelsson said in a statement.
To promote the ambitious project, RWNYC partnered with Queens native rapper Nas, who said the development would “provide new opportunities for working families in Queens, attract top talent and create the next generation of leaders”. .”
But approval of the project is not a sure bet. The state’s Gaming Commission will ultimately decide which casino plans will receive licenses, and according to The New York Times, the state’s process “is set up so strong community opposition could kill a casino bid before regulators states review the application”.
This has not stopped casino operators from launching offers. By the end of 2022, Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty launched one to develop a casino complex in Times Square. Related Companies and Wynn Resorts they want to build a casino at Hudson Yards in Manhattan. And the Soloviev and Mohegan Group, based in New York, have proposed it a casino near the United Nations.
Other casino projects have been proposed at Coney Island, Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store, 11th Avenue in Manhattan and Willets Point in Queens, according to The New York Times.
Perhaps to strengthen its offer in a competitive race, RWNYC also issued a number of statements of support of local politicians.
“Southeast Queens has always dreamed of a project like this, which will put a complete entertainment, gaming and community destination just minutes from JFK Airport,” said U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, who represents the 5th District of New York. “We continue the fight for jobs, green spaces, housing and public transit improvements for a generation.”
RWNYC also said its expansion could create more than 10 acres of publicly accessible green space, including parks, trails and bike paths. The complex also said it will “continue its goal of exceeding state and industry procurement and supplier standards for Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Service Disabled Veterans Businesses (SDVOBs).”
RWNYC said it has generated more than $4 billion for New York State’s public education system since opening in 2011. The property is owned by Malaysian company Genting Group, which operates 11 Resorts locations World in the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions of New York, as well as Las Vegas in the US; Malaysia; Singapore; and the United Kingdom
