Proposal For Queens, NY, Casino Backed By Nas Receives Approval From The Community Advisory Board
A casino backed by Nas will be making its way to Queens, NY.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the “If I Ruled the World” artist teamed up with Resorts World Casino New York City and its parent company, Genting Americas East, to open a $5.5 billion “Las Vegas-style casino” in his neighborhood. Project plans include a performance space that can seat 7,000, a partnership with 30 new food and beverage vendors, and 1,600 new hotel rooms inside the Hyatt Regency at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Beyond revenue-generating additions, the proposal includes housing units that could serve up to 3,000 employees and a 10-acre park space for commuters.
“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. Clearly, with this project, the world is ours,” Nas said in a February 2024 Instagram post.
Fast-forward to September 2025, and the casino has been approved by the community advisory board in a 6-0 vote, according to Billboard. It now awaits a vote from the Gaming Facility Location Board. The goal is for the casino to open in July 2026.
If approved in the next vote, it is projected to become one of the largest casinos in the country, with project plans encompassing 350,000 square feet. It is also expected to bring 24,000 new jobs to Queens and generate $1 million in revenue by its first year.
“On behalf of the entire Resorts World team, I want to thank the Community Advisory Committee for recognizing the impact we will have not only on Queens but all of New York City and State,” said Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio, per Billboard. “We are incredibly grateful to the large number of residents, partners, and supporters who touted this project, without a single person speaking against it. This is a testament to our mission — solidified over the last 15 years — to be the best neighbor possible here in Queens.”
