They were in the starting gate about a year ago, and now they’re streaking across the finish line, ahead of schedule. Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park will open its last two floors this Friday, four months before expected.
Resorts World will officially open the new additions on Friday, but the press was given a special sneak-peek of the new facilities on Monday by Michael Speller, president of Resorts World New York.
The casino has already been averaging about 15,000 to 18,000 patrons on any given weekday and 20,000 patrons on weekends, according to Speller. “We have been truly humbled by the response of New Yorkers and tourists alike,” he said.
The new features include two new restaurants, more gambling facilities and an indoor, 130,000-square-foot event space. These features cater to those seeking a more sophisticated gaming experience.
Gamblers seeking a more exclusive, upper- crust experience should try Crockfords Casino, a newly-opened invitation-only club. It was named after Crockfords in London, which is the oldest private members-only gaming establishment in the world. The original Crockfords was opened in 1828 by William Crockford. He sought to create a gaming experience suitable for royalty and diplomats.
The NYC Crockfords will seek to provide a similar high-class, exclusive experience. If invited, guests can partake of a plush lounge, sunroom and terrace while enjoying access to 78 gaming machines. The club can only be entered through a private ground-floor VIP entrance.
Gamblers who aren’t quite ready for that VIP status won’t be disappointed though. The two new restaurants are open to all.
Genting Palace, named for Resorts World’s Malaysian parent company Genting Group, offers authentic Chinese cuisine and views of the racetrack. It employs experienced Hong Kong chefs who will prepare a variety of Chinese delicacies, from dim sum and seasonal fresh seafood to Chinese barbeque.
The other new dining establishment, RW Prime Steakhouse, will focus on steaks and seafood, even flying in fresh Maine lobster daily.
Other newly-opened facilities include 2,514 video lottery terminals and electronic table games, bringing the casino’s grand total to 5,000, and a large indoor event space, called Central Park Events Center.
The Central Park space can hold 5,000 people, and will be available for events like concerts, weddings, fundraisers and conferences. The casino has their own catering staff, but is willing to work closely with any outside vendors clients bring in. Don’t know 5,000 people? No problem. The massive space can be partitioned into smaller areas, or you could rent only the balcony.
The completion of this phase leaves the Skyline, which would connect the casino to the nearby A-train station, the last remaining unfinished snippet of the project. The Skyline was initially slated to open before the end of this year, but has been pushed back to spring.
Resorts World is still looking for employees to fully staff the new features. Current open- ings include everything from bartenders to sous chefs, to cage cashiers to security personnel. A full list of all openings can be found at www.rwnewyork.com.
The casino first opened on Oct. 28, after exactly one year of construction. The opening was met by lines of patrons stretching nearly to the parking lot.
By Liz Peterson
