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Nas and Resorts World NYC are closer than ever to making their dream of building a casino in Queens a reality.
On Thursday, September 25, the Community Advisory Board unanimously voted to approve a proposal that would bring the casino worth $5.5 billion to Southeast Queens. Following the 6-0 vote, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. took a jab at JAY-Z after the committee struck down his bid for 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 said. “You can let the Brooklyn borough president know that I send my regards to him.”
“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 about the proposal in 2024. “Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”
According to Billboard, a final approval from the Gaming Facility Location Board is needed before the casino can obtain its necessary gaming license. In addition to the casino, the plan also calls for 30 restaurants, a 7,000-capacity venue for concerts, and a sports and media complex spearheaded by NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith. Nas and his partners at Resorts World NYC aim to create 24,000 jobs and generate $1 million in new revenue within the casino's first year.
The casino is expected to open by July 2026.