Nas wins NYC casino battle as Resorts World Queens expansion moves forward
Queens project proposed by Resorts World and Nas would be the largest integrated resort in the United States, after a unanimous board approval in New York.
Nas has won the latest New York City casino battle, as a state board unanimously approved a $5.5 billion expansion of Resorts World Casino in Queens. The project would create the largest integrated resort in the United States, according to developers Genting Americas East and Resorts World, with Nas attached as a partner to push the Queens expansion.
Earlier this month, a six-member state Community Advisory Committee rejected Jay-Z and Roc Nation's bid for a Caesars Palace Times Square casino in a 4-2 vote. Queens officials and local leaders had supported the Resorts World expansion, highlighting potential jobs and economic benefits. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards quipped that the city had prevailed in the decision.
Nas announced his partnership with Resorts World in June with a splashy video, saying that the future is something you build and that Queens would be central to the plan.
Robert DeSalvia, president of Genting Americas East, said the company was grateful for the community's support and noted that not a single person spoke against the project during the process, underscoring a broad consensus about its role in Queens and New York City.
Queens native and retired NBA star Kenny 'The Jet' Smith is backing the project and has unveiled The Jet Center, a sports and media complex that will anchor the Resorts World Innovation Campus, according to a press release. The facility is described as a centerpiece of the broader plan to integrate gaming, hospitality, and entertainment in the Queens complex.
The expansion's scope centers on a $5.5 billion investment to build an integrated resort in Queens that would house gaming floors, hotels, entertainment venues, and the Resorts World Innovation Campus. The plan is designed to position Queens as a national hub for gaming and entertainment and to bolster nearby businesses and employment opportunities, according to developer materials.
As background, a 2024 report indicated that Jay-Z and Roc Nation proposed $250 million in grants for Hells Kitchen should their Caesars Palace Times Square casino win approval; that bid did not come to pass after the committee's vote this week.
State officials and project backers emphasized that the Queens deal would be a long-term investment in the neighborhood, with commitments to community partnerships and neighborly benefits, as the project seeks to become a benchmark for future development in the area.
The project is part of a broader push to diversify Queens' economy through entertainment, hospitality, and gaming, leveraging Nas's local roots to bolster community engagement and ensure that the neighborhood benefits from the development. Officials stressed that the objective is to create jobs, public amenities, and lasting partnerships with residents and small businesses in Queens.
