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Rapper Nas performs during 2025 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Resorts World NYC, which partnered with Nas, received unanimous approval in a 6-0 vote from the Community Advisory Board to bring its $5.5 billion casino to Queens.

Following Thursday’s (Sept. 25) victory, the Resorts World project is now on the 1-yard line, awaiting a final approval decision from the Gaming Facility Location Board.

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Resorts World officials hope the Southeast Queens casino will open doors by July 2026, and the Aqueduct Park project is expected to be one of the largest in the U.S. at 350,000 square feet.

“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 Robert DeSalvio, who serves as the president of Genting Americas East. “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.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. even took a shot at Jay-Z, after Roc Nation’s proposal was struck down by the CAC last week, which has all but killed Hov’s hopes of building a casino in Times Square.

“There’s a theme in Queens, and I know that Nas was a part of this: Queens get the money. Sorry, Jay-Z, we win again,” Richards quipped. “You can let the Brooklyn borough president know that I send my regards to him.”

Along with a state-of-the-art casino and 30 eateries, Resorts World will open a 7,000-person capacity entertainment venue to bring concerts, games and events to the area.

According to Covers, NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith will help bring a sports and media complex to the Resorts World campus.

The Resorts World project hopes to bring 24,000 new jobs to Queens and $1 million in new revenue during its first year of operation.

Resorts World wasn’t the only bid to hear good news, as MGM Empire Casino’s bid to transform its racino to a full-service casino in Yonkers was also approved, meaning there’s one gaming license remaining for New York.

“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,” Nas said in March 2024 when he came on board with Resorts World. “Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”

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