Queens Gets First Full Casino: Live Games Arrive

New York City has welcomed its inaugural full-scale commercial casino with the opening of Resorts World in Queens. Previously operating as an electronic-games-only parlor since 2011, the venue has now launched live table games, dealers, and cards, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning. This development brings live blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette within city limits for the first time. Hundreds of eager gamblers attended the opening, with many expressing excitement about having a local option. The casino has projected up to $4 billion in annual revenue and has created 1,250 new jobs, including 950 table-game dealers. This expansion is part of a larger state approval that also granted licenses to Bally's in the Bronx and Hard Rock in Queens, though these are expected to open around 2030. While celebrated by many for economic benefits and convenience, concerns about increased gambling addiction, particularly in immigrant communities, have been raised by opponents. Resorts World, already a high-grossing racino, leveraged its existing infrastructure to open the live-dealer section months after receiving its license.