{"id":303375,"date":"2026-07-22T23:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T23:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/303375\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T23:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T23:46:16","slug":"resorts-world-nyc-breaks-ground-on-second-phase-of-5-5-billion-expansion-in-south-ozone-park-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/303375\/","title":{"rendered":"Resorts World NYC breaks ground on second phase of $5.5 billion expansion in South Ozone Park \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Resorts World New York City<\/a> broke ground on the second phase of its $5.5 billion expansion Wednesday morning, which will include a new hotel tower and a 7,000-seater multipurpose arena for concerts.<\/p>\n

Located near the former Aqueduct racetrack in South Ozone Park<\/a>, Resorts World was one of three casino bids to win a downstate gaming license from the state\u2019s Gaming Commission last December, alongside the Bally\u2019s development in the Bronx and fellow Queens site Metropolitan Park near Citi Field.<\/p>\n

Resorts World, which opened in South Ozone Park as a \u201cracino\u201d next to the now-closed racetrack, featuring slot machines but no table games in 2011, expanded its operations in April to offer 240 table games, including blackjack, craps and roulette. The casino also offers over 2,500 slot machines after installing 1,400 new machines as part of its first-floor expansion, unveiled a day before Wednesday\u2019s groundbreaking.<\/p>\n

The second phase of Resorts World\u2019s $5.5 billion expansion features plans for a 400-key Hyatt tower hotel and a new luxury Crockfords hotel featuring 1,200 rooms, adding to the existing 400-room Hyatt Regency opened at the property in 2021. Once completed, Resorts World NYC will boast 2,000 hotel rooms in South Ozone Park.<\/p>\n

Resorts World also broke ground on a 7,000-seater multipurpose arena on Wednesday as well as a new central plaza and a new parking garage.\n<\/p>\n

The full expansion is projected to create 10,000 jobs, including an estimated 5,000 union construction jobs. Resorts World said the expansion will add 2 million square feet of new gaming, entertainment, dining, retail and convention space to the existing one-million-square-foot property in South Ozone Park.<\/p>\n

\"QueensQueens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech at Wednesday\u2019s groundbreaking. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.<\/p>\n

KT Lim, executive chairman of Resorts World parent company Genting, said the expansion represents one of the largest private investments in the history of New York City and paid tribute to the partnership between Resorts World and local government.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis groundbreaking has happened because of the strength of our partnership with the state, the city, the unions, and this community,\u201d Lim said at Wednesday\u2019s groundbreaking. \u201cWe are deeply grateful for that partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat began as a decade-long dream to build a global international gaming entertainment and dining destination in Queens is now about to be realized in front of us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He further described the groundbreaking ceremony as a \u201cpromise renewed\u201d and gave his \u201cfull commitment\u201d to deliver on Resorts World\u2019s \u201cgrand vision\u201d for the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can tell you with confidence that this is only the beginning of what is to come next,\u201d Lim said.\n<\/p>\n

Kevin Jones, Resorts World\u2019s chief strategy officer, said the casino has become the highest-grossing casino in the country since the opening of live table games three months ago, adding that Resorts World NYC has tripled its workforce from 1,000 to 3,000 in that time.<\/p>\n

The casino is anticipated to bring in $425 million in tax revenue for both state education and transit by the end of the year, according to Resorts World. The integrated resort will also bring in $125 million in tax revenue this year for the state\u2019s horse racing industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just the beginning,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more coming.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Resorts World has paid $170 million in casino taxes in its first 12 weeks of full operations, the company said.\n<\/p>\n

Once the $5.5 billion expansion is completed, Resorts World will boast 800 table games and 6,000 slot machines in addition to 12 acres of open public space and a state-of-the-art community center named after NBA legend Kenny \u201cthe Jet\u201d Smith. Jones said the expansion would be completed with union labor, transforming the local community.<\/p>\n

Several elected officials were present at Wednesday\u2019s groundbreaking, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; Assembly Members Alicia Hyndman, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Brian Cunningham and Lester Chang; State Sens. Joseph Addabbo and James Sanders; and Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers.<\/p>\n

\"StateState Sen. James Sanders. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.<\/p>\n

Richards said Queens had \u201chit another jackpot\u201d with the launch of the second phase of the Resorts World expansion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first part back in April with all the new table games was easy, but now the real expansion begins,\u201d Richards said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said the new hotel rooms would further grow Queens\u2019 reputation as a top tourist destination, while the Jet Center would give local children a chance to \u201cplay ball\u201d and \u201cgrow as people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what this groundbreaking today is symbolic about,\u201d Richards said. \u201cIt\u2019s about delivering for a community that has long needed opportunities for our children, for workers and our families.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"QueensQueens Borough President Donovan Richards. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.<\/p>\n

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