By State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
A year ago this week, the Queens community came together to welcome Resorts World Casino New York City to the borough. One year later, we have 1,750 new jobs, $410 million in additional tax revenue, and an anchor business in Queens that is partnering with local business both in joint marketing plans and vendor agreements, helping them to thrive and grow. Resorts World has been a tremendous partner to the Queens community and the impact it’s having on our local economy will only grow in the years to come.
As a destination attraction, Resorts World Casino has brought millions of visitors to Queens, who would otherwise travel to Connecticut, Atlantic City and elsewhere for gaming. In doing so, the casino has been able to recapture millions of dollars in revenue for New York City, New York State, and for the state’s education coffers.
At the same time, Resorts World Casino has made a commitment to our local workforce by not only providing good-paying jobs, but by developing careers for the thousands of Queens residents who work there. Over the last year, they have promoted more than 130 employees and have provided opportunities for hundreds of others to transfer within the company to develop their professional skills.
Resorts World Casino was the single largest job creator in New York State in 2011 and made an extensive commitment to the hiring of a diverse workforce that represented the Queens community.
It’s also important that in addition to the economic shot-in-the-arm Resorts World Casino has provided to the borough, the company has also made a significant commitment to partner with and support our local community organizations, which represent the social fabric of Queens. In making this commitment, the company is setting a public example of corporate responsibility that we are hopeful other companies will emulate.
While last year has broken every expectation we have had for tax revenue, job creation, and visitors to the casino, we fully expect next year to be even bigger. As the State Senator for the area, I intend to continue working with the operators of Resorts World Casino to ensure that the residents and businesses of the community and throughout Queens continue to benefit from hosting this first-rate, professional business.
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. is the State Senator for the 15th District, now representing in whole or in part, the Queens neighborhoods of Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, South Ozone Park, Glendale, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Sunnyside, Woodside, Elmhurst, Forest Hills and Rego Park.
