Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder is flanked by Jack Friedman of Resorts World, fellow assembly member Rozic at a press conference on the steps of Borough Hall on Tuesday afternoon demanding the governors consideration to name Resort World Casino as eligible for full fledged gaming. Photo Courtesy of Assemblyman Goldfeder's Office.
When it comes to what table games would mean for Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct, elected officials and business leaders said this week it’s no game of roulette.
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park), state Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), and representatives from the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the Queens Economic Development Corporations and area small businesses gathered on the steps of Borough Hall on Tuesday to send Gov. Cuomo a message: Table gaming at South Ozone Park’s Resorts World Casino would give the area’s economy a much needed boost.
Cuomo said in mid-May that if voters back his plan to legalize full gaming in a statewide referendum, he plans to bring six casinos to upstate New York – and zero to the New York City area. Currently, Resorts World offers electronic versions of traditional table games – like roulette and craps – but an expanded version of this would “stimulate” South Queens’ – as well as the state’s – economy because more gamers would flock to the casino. After opening its doors in October 2011, the casino has gone to generate more than $1 billion in revenue, according to a release issued by Resorts World last week. About half of those funds have gone to the state to be used for education.
“Post-Sandy, we need to find new and creative ways to help our small businesses to create good-paying jobs that will rejuvenate our local economy,” Goldfeder said. “Creating a full-scale, enhanced gaming casino at Resorts World would not only increase revenues for the community and the state, but the impact would be felt immediately in terms of economic activity and job creation for Southern Queens and Rockaway families.”
As part of Cuomo’s plan announced earlier this month, the casino would be protected from competing casinos being built because the governor aims to ban developers from erecting the gambling institutions in the New York City area, including Long Island, for five years. Despite the ban, legislators, like Addabbo, said allowing for full table gaming at Aqueduct would increase the number of jobs at the casino – which he said has already provided an economic boost for the borough.
“Because of Resorts World, we have 1,750 new jobs, $710 million in additional tax revenue, and a great partner for local business right here in Queens,” Addabbo said. “The Queens community couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor and we’re looking forward to celebrating many more successful months.”
Queens business leaders too argued that full gaming at Aqueduct would provide tremendous economic benefits.
“Resorts World has created hundreds of jobs for Queens’ residents, has led to millions of dollars of local economic activity and has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to local not-for-profits,” Chamber of Commerce President Albert Pennisi said. “Adding table gaming would increase these numbers exponentially.”
QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein echoed Pennisi’s sentiment, saying legalized table gambling would bring more visitors to Queens – “and more visitors translates to more jobs.”
By Anna Gustafson
