Genting submits US$5.5bn New York casino bid
Resorts World New York City aims to get a full casino licence in Queens.
US.- Genting New York has submitted a US$5.5bn proposal to the New York State Gaming Commission to bid for one of the three downstate casino licences expected to be granted this year. It hopes to convert its existing Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) in Queens into one of the largest integrated resorts in the United States.
The bid outlines plans for a 5.6 million-square-foot development adjacent to JFK International Airport. The resort would feature a 500,000-square-foot gaming floor with 6,000 slot machines and 800 table games, 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat performance venue, over 30 food and beverage outlets and 10 acres of public greenspace.
“Fifteen years ago, we made a promise to make this site an economic engine for Queens and New York,” said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East. “Today, that promise takes the next step forward with a bid that will deliver thousands of jobs, billions in tax revenue, and a destination that rivals any in the world.”
If approved, the project would expand RWNYC’s permanent workforce from 1,000 to 5,000, with more than half of the new hires expected to come from Queens. Genting says it anticipates generating over 5,000 union construction jobs.
The resort’s expansion could begin operations within six months of licensure. Genting projects more than US$1bn in contributions to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over the first five years of commercial activity. It says RWNYC has already contributed US$4.5bn to New York’s public education system since opening in 2011.
Genting sees the bid as a major part of a broader US expansion strategy, which also includes Resorts World Catskills and Resorts World Las Vegas. RWNYC is the only casino in New York City to date but only has video lottery terminals and electronic table games. The proposal says the location makes it ideal for international travellers arriving through JFK.
A decision on the downstate casino licenses is expected by December 1.
