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Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) has added 1,400 slot machines as it advances its $5.5 billion expansion, with a groundbreaking ceremony also scheduled today, Wednesday, for the next phase of the project.
The expansion adds a new first-floor gaming area, including a Dragon Den featuring 114 Aristocrat titles and 48 Dragon Link machines.
The property will also break ground on Phase Two of the redevelopment on Wednesday, which includes a 400-room hotel tower and a 7,000-seat entertainment venue.
“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.”
The latest expansion forms part of RWNYC’s long-term redevelopment plan, which will ultimately include a 350,000-square-foot casino with 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, and more than 10 acres of public green space. Once completed, the property is expected to become the largest casino in the US.
New rendering of the Resorts World expansion
Resorts World New York City currently employs about 2,200 people, with its expansion expected to create an additional 500 to 2,700 jobs by the end of summer. Officials expect the expanded casino to generate $10.8 billion in state and local tax revenue over its first 10 years of operation.
The company said it has contributed more than $5 billion to New York’s public education system since opening in 2011 and reaffirmed commitments that include $2.5 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a $2 billion community benefits package.
The expansion follows the launch of live table games on April 28, a milestone that completed RWNYC’s transition from a racino into a full commercial casino.
Data from the New York State Gaming Commission shows table game gross gaming revenue more than doubled from about $4.9 million in the first reporting week to over $10.4 million in the week ending July 12. During the same period, weekly slot revenue remained relatively stable at around $20 million to $22 million.
Combined weekly gaming revenue rose from $27.2 million to approximately $30.8 million, suggesting that growth since the launch has been driven primarily by stronger table game performance.
The New York State Gaming Commission has also awarded full casino licences to two other operators. Steve Cohen and Hard Rock plan to develop the Metropolitan Park casino complex near Citi Field in Queens, whilst Bally’s will build a casino at Ferry Point in the Bronx.
Resorts World, owned by Malaysia’s Genting Group, has a head start because it already operates a casino at the site, whilst the other licensees are building new properties that will take years to open.
Meanwhile, Bally’s Bronx has progressed with development after acquiring the Ferry Point site for $157 million in February and filing construction permit applications earlier this month for the proposed resort, which is targeted to open in 2030.
Metropolitan Park began pre-construction work in February, although local reports in May said the project was running several months behind schedule. Developers have maintained that the delays will not affect its planned 2030 opening.