3 NYC casinos get downstate casino licenses for Vegas-style gaming – first table games could arrive as early as March

New York State regulators have greenlit three downstate casino projects, clearing a big regulatory hurdle for full “Las Vegas-style” gambling in New York City. The approvals cover a Queens upgrade at Resorts World New York City, a new Queens resort planned near Citi Field by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock, and a new Bronx casino Bally’s wants to build at Ferry Point on the former Trump golf course site.

Backers say the projects mean huge one-time license payments, steady tax revenue over time, and thousands of jobs. Skeptics aren’t buying it, warning about more traffic, more strain on nearby neighborhoods, and a wider footprint for gambling harm. For players, the quickest shift is likely in Queens: Resorts World could add live dealer table games as early as March since it already runs a large VLT-based venue at Aqueduct Racetrack. That’s the near-term headline.

Downstate casino licenses: what New York approved

On Monday, the New York State Gaming Commission issued final approvals for three downstate casino licenses. These are widely viewed as some of the most valuable in the US, mostly because the New York metro area is massive, tourism is constant, and plenty of demand already leaks across state lines.

Here, “Vegas-style gaming” means a full commercial casino. Think live dealer table games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and poker, plus slots. That’s a different legal bucket than New York’s video lottery terminals (VLTs). VLTs may look like slots on the floor, but they’re treated as lottery products under state law and usually show up in “racino” setups tied to racetracks.

State officials have consistently sold the approvals around three themes: upfront license fees, ongoing gaming taxes, and big development packages with hotels, entertainment, and hospitality. This is also the long-planned next phase. New York approved upstate commercial casinos earlier in the 2010s, while downstate full-scale licenses were intentionally delayed and framed as a later step.

Resorts World NYC: Queens project positioned to move first

Resorts World New York City is run by Genting. The Queens property has operated for years as a VLT venue at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, so the gaming floor and the back-of-house infrastructure are already there. That matters, because it can move faster than anything starting from bare ground.

Coverage of the approvals suggests Resorts World could roll out live table games as early as March, assuming it clears the remaining compliance steps and gets staffing and operations lined up. The bigger change is the shift from a mostly VLT floor into a full casino model, which typically means more table inventory, expanded premium areas, and amenities that fit commercial-casino play.

If you work in casino affiliate, speed is the whole story. When an existing “racino” flips the switch, it can start chasing table-game players fast, while new-build sites have years of construction and local approvals to grind through first.

Metropolitan Park: Hard Rock and Steve Cohen near Citi Field

Metropolitan Park is the $8.1 billion plan backed by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International. Hard Rock’s a global gaming and hospitality name, known for casino resorts, hotels, and major entertainment programming tied to live music. The brand recognition alone carries weight in this market.

The proposal targets around 50 acres of Citi Field parking lots. Plans include a casino and hotel, food and beverage venues, a live music venue, and a “Taste of Queens” concept food hall. Project materials have also pitched a big public-park component, with a substantial share of the site presented as new public open space.

Timelines in reporting point to a 2030 opening. Jobs are the centerpiece of the pitch, and project documents cited in coverage refer to a little over 4,000 full-time jobs once the property is operating, with compensation estimates that include wages and benefits.

Still, Metropolitan Park has attracted some of the loudest pushback. New York State Senator Jessica Ramos has been one of the more visible opponents, pointing to traffic congestion, problem gambling, and the question of whether promised community benefits can really be locked in and enforced over time.

Bally’s Bronx: Ferry Point casino plan on former Trump golf course site

Bally’s is a long-established US gaming brand with a portfolio of regional casino properties. Its Bronx plan would put a large casino complex at Ferry Point, on the site of the former Trump golf course. It’s a headline-grabbing location, whether you like it or not.

Bally’s executives have called the approval a major win for a bid many observers viewed as an uphill climb. Under terms described in coverage, Bally’s is slated to pay $115 million to the Trump Organization as part of taking over the lease and operating rights tied to the property.

Reporting says the project would include more than 500,000 square feet of gaming space, with a 2030 opening target. Pay-and-benefits comparisons vary by source, but Bally’s has been described as coming in below the Queens projects on some average wage-and-benefits estimates.

License fees and tax revenue claims

These downstate licenses don’t come cheap. Supporters keep pointing to $500 million per license, or $1.5 billion total, as an immediate funding boost. State messaging around the approvals has linked that money to priorities like transit and education, with the MTA often name-checked in the broader conversation.

Then there’s the longer game: gaming tax revenue. State officials and board members have floated sizable multi-year projections from downstate casino play. One estimate cited in coverage put potential state gambling tax revenue near $7 billion from 2027 to 2036, plus additional state and local tax collections tied to construction and ongoing operations.

Opening timelines and jobs

These three approvals won’t hit the market all at once. Resorts World is the only project with a large, operating gaming facility already in place, which is why it’s the one tied to the earliest possible table-game rollout. Everyone else has to build.

• Resorts World Queens: table games discussed as early as March, with a broader redevelopment phase cited with a spring 2026 target in related coverage.
• Metropolitan Park: opening target described as 2030.
• Bally’s Bronx: opening target described as 2030.

Across the three approvals, the Gaming Commission chair pointed to roughly 11,500 permanent full-time jobs expected once the projects are up and running, in addition to years of construction work. That’s the scale the state wants people to focus on.

Community concerns: traffic and problem gambling

Not everyone local sees these licenses as a clean win. In Queens, community groups have protested around major votes and review steps, and some residents say they’re bracing for more congestion and day-to-day disruption. Problem gambling is another steady concern, with officials and advocates pushing for stronger consumer protections and more funding for treatment.

Critics also challenge the bigger economic promise. Some argue casino resorts are designed to keep spending on-site, which can leave nearby commercial corridors with less spillover than advertised. An academic researcher cited in coverage pointed to prior US studies suggesting casino openings can flatten local retail growth and reduce net job gains once displacement is factored in.

For operators and affiliates, this pushback isn’t just background noise. It can shape the operating reality, from responsible gambling funding expectations to security requirements and transportation mitigation commitments. It can also affect how quickly projects clear remaining steps, especially if legal or procedural challenges pop up.

NYC’s shift toward full commercial casino gaming

However you feel about it, the downstate approvals are New York City stepping into full commercial casino gaming. It also fits New York’s long, phased approach: lottery-style gaming and VLTs first, upstate commercial casinos next, then downstate full casino licenses after the waiting period.

From a market angle, these downstate casinos set up a tougher fight across the Northeast. They also open a new, high-profile battlefield for loyalty programs, premium table product, and entertainment-heavy casino marketing. But the first real player-facing change is still likely in Queens at Resorts World, where live dealer table games could show up first, potentially as early as March. If fast access matters more than shiny new construction, that’s the one to watch.