Queens’ only casino will be building brand new amenities for the over 10 million annual visitors to Resorts World Casino New York City in South Ozone Park as they broke ground on a $400 million expansion project on Thursday, July 13.
Excitement was in the air as members of Resorts World, including President Scott Molina, and elected officials from across the borough gathered outside the casino, located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., for the honorary groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the expansion that will bring a 400-room four-star hotel, four new dining outlets including a signature restaurant concept by a celebrity chef, new retail offerings, a new arrival experience, and, of course, new games.
“We are incredibly excited to break ground on this extraordinary project, which will welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy the ultimate play, stay, dine and shop experience right here in Queens,” Molina said. “The expansion will serve as an economic engine for our local community and the state, create more good-paying jobs for local residents, and generate significant revenue for New York State’s Lottery Education Fund.”
Local leaders from south Queens applauded Resorts World’s operations since opening in 2011 and the positive impact it has made on the local communities.
Resorts World currently employs 1,100 people, with more than half of those employees coming from the surrounding area. In addition, the casino has generated over $1.9 billion for the New York State Education Fund.
This expansion project — which is expected to be complete by mid-2019 — is estimated to bring in $200 million for New York, as well as 1,000 new jobs, with approximately 3,000 construction jobs and thousands more indirect jobs.
“The expansion of the first and only casino in the city of New York is yet another indicator of the growth underway here in Queens,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “In its more than five years of operations, Resorts World has proven to be an exemplary neighbor and partner to the surrounding community. The expansion into a world-class destination will be a boon for Queens, ushering in thousands of new, good jobs and millions in economic activity.”
