NYC’s Only Casino Still Going Strong a Decade Later
At a time when the New York State legislature is on the verge of lending its full support to three new retail casinos coming to the state, one has to wonder whether or not that's a good idea. Why? In 2021, New York approved online sports betting for residents and visitors. This allowed for gambling on many online casinos in the USA as well as on various mobile apps.
Because of this, some of the currently existing retail casino properties have had a rough going in recent years. With that said, there is but one New York City casino property that has been and remains successful. That would be Resorts World Casino New York City.
The History of the Resorts World Casino New York City
The development of the Resorts World Casino New York City was approved in the late 2000s. Within two or three years, the retail casino had its Grand Opening, which took place in late 2011. In the process, Resorts World joined Jake's 58 in Islandia and Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway as the only retail casinos in the New York City area. Note: New York is also home to several licensed retail casinos located upstate.
The Resorts World Casino is located in Jamaicai, Queens, NY on the same property as the historic Aqueduct Racetrack. The actual casino is owned and operated by the Genting Group, which is headquartered in Wisma Genting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The primary architect for the property was JCJ Architecture.
The entire casino property measures close to 1.1 million square feet with a bit over 330,000 square feet devoted to gaming. At 1.1 million square feet, Resorts World Casino is the largest entertainment complex in New York City. With the exception of some Baccarat games played with real cards, all casino games are automated. That includes electronic table games like Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, and some Baccarat machines, plus a wide range of video slots from many of the top game developers in the world.
The casino floor is in fact divided up into three (3) themed casinos: Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and the members-only Crockford’s Club. Other key components located within the facility are twelve (12) branded and unbranded restaurants, six (6) bars/lounges, and the “Central Park” conference and event center. It's noteworthy that the event center is the largest center in the entire city.
Let's take a further look at the three (3) themed casinos and event center.
Times Square
This casino occupies the first floor with a view of the historic Aqueduct race track where some of the greatest equine champions of all time made U.S. horse racing history.
The casino itself brings the bright lights and digital marketing boards of the real Times Square to life in a casino setting. The casino features Bar 360, a multi-level entertainment venue, and the Aqueduct buffet, which provides a patio view of the racetrack.
Fifth Avenue
New York's Fifth Avenue is famous for its refinement and fashion. All of that is brought to life in the Fifth Avenue Casino where high-rollers are given access to an abundance of high-stakes table games. The second-floor facility features the Genting Palace, the RW Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, The Liberty Bar, and the astonishing "Light of Nations," a 60-foot crystal chandelier.
Crockford’s Club
New Yorkers enjoy a little privacy every now and then. Welcome to the Crockford’s Club on levels two and three of the Resorts World Casino New York City. The level two club features three (3) themed private rooms: Moonlight, Twilight, and Starlight. On level three, there are another six (6) private rooms available, all named after precious gemstones: Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Ruby, Amethyst, and Emerald. All rooms are available by reservation only for members only.
Gaming options include live dealer Blackjack and Baccarat.
Central Park Event Center
When visitors reach the third floor, they will find themselves at the entrance of the Central Park event center. At 70K square feet, it's the single largest event center in the city of New York. The facility is available for concerts, conferences, weddings, and intimate gatherings.
Resorts World Casino New York City - Other Fun Facts
With a casino property this big, there is always a lot going on. With that in mind, let's take a look at some other fun facts about the property and casino:
The casino grounds include a five-level parking facility with 2,365 parking spaces
Easy subway and transportation access is available to Manhattan, La Guardia Airports, and Kennedy Airport
The facility employs over 1,700 residents, mostly from Queens
The Casino complex brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the state of New York each year
