Resorts World New York City unveiled its $5 billion plan to turn Resorts World in Queens into a full, Las Vegas-style casino should the group be granted one of three downstate New York casino licenses.

The plan, which calls for a two million square foot expansion in addition to the current one million square foot facility, would include one of the world’s largest casinos at 350,000 square feet and an additional 1,600 hotel rooms added to the existing 400 at Hyatt Regency JFK Airport. 

Other amenities will include a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, a dance club, and a spa. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, known for blending cultural influences, will lead the culinary offerings. There will also be unfettered views of the to-be-built Parkside Conservatory and a new community park. 

“We’re proud to have grown with the Queens community for over a decade,” Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East (Resorts World’s parent company), said in a press release. “When we stood here more than a dozen years ago to break ground on Resorts World New York City, our vision extended well beyond that already ambitious original plan – today, that vision can soon become reality.

“Since we opened in 2011, we have been proud to work with New York City and state and the local community to deliver thousands of good-paying union jobs, billions of dollars in tax revenue to New York’s schoolchildren, and true partnership to hundreds of local nonprofits. With the advent of the newly imagined Resorts World New York City, we can, and will, do far more.” 

Community gives OK

In what will be a hotly contested battle for the three casino licenses, the New York State Gaming Commission will be leaning, in part, on what members of the local communities have to say about a casino in their backyard. On that score, Resorts World will not be crapping out.

“Resorts World New York City came into our community more than a dozen years ago, and every day since has been a dedicated neighbor who shows up, hears our feedback, and responds to our needs,” said Betty Braton, chair of Queens Community Board 10, in the release. “They have been with us in good times and tough times ever since, giving both financial support and their time to this community. I know this partnership will only continue as Resorts World answers the immediate needs but also presents a vision for the future.” 

On hand at Thursday’s announcement was the Queens-born rapper Nas.

“This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders,” he said. “Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”

Resorts World New York City is the latest would-be bidder to come forward with its plans for a casino, following the other Queens entrant, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park , and MGM Resorts’ Yonkers proposal.

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