By The Diary
After nearly a decade of advances and setbacks, an online casino opened in Queens on Tuesday, bringing live table games to New York City for the first time.
Hotels World Unusual York Metropolis – located in South Ozone Park, adjacent to Aqueduct Racetrack and just a few miles from JFK Airport, the state’s largest air terminal – “rolled out the red carpet for roulette, craps, baccarat and blackjackopening the doors of its online casino to more than 1,200 new jobs – including 950 table dealers – and generating up to $7 billion in tax revenue for gambling for the next 10 years,” he summarized Every day News. “The new 3rd floor lounge is longer than an American football field.” and is packed with shiny new blackjack tables, craps (craps), baccarat and roulette.”
“After all the negotiations, planning, relationship building and all the work to manage the license application process, we have finally reached this day“said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Tuesday, the opening day of the expanded online casino. “Give yourselves a round of applause, because “We have won the jackpot.”
For now, Hotels has the odds in its favor, being the first of three full-service casinos planned to open in the city. The other two will not open until 2030.: a Bally’s project in The Bronxon a former golf course owned by President Donald Trump; and Laborious Rock next to NY Mets’ Citi Field in Queens.
This online casino will pay a substantial part of the income to the state of New York, with a tax of 63% on the revenue from slot machines and 30% on revenue from table games. Once competition arrives, the tax rate will drop to the levels your competitors pay once they are fully operational.
“We are changing the landscape of New York forever with a building that will never close its doors,” said Kevin Jones, chief strategy officer, Hotels World Unusual York.
Since 2011 Hotels had operated as a gaming establishment offering only electronic games. However, after years of competing for a full gaming license, the establishment now bears all the hallmarks of an online casino in the style of Las Vegas.
Hotels World has promised that it will eventually become the largest online casino in the country, with a 500,000 square foot game room housing thousands of board games. Once completed, you will have:
- 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games, totaling 10,800 gaming positions.
- 2,000 resort rooms, expanding the 400 units already existing in its Hyatt Regency.
- a new multipurpose concert hall with capacity for 7,000 spectators.
- More than 12 acres of new public green spaces, a complete spa and an Innovation Campus whose central hub will be the Jet Heart sports center, in honor of Queens basketball legend, Kenny “The Jet” Smith.
For information about jobs there, check the official page.
But not everyone celebrates this new project. His detractors had pointed to pollution and other environmental concerns. There was also fear that the online casino could cause aincrease in crime and traffic.
It’s been more than a decade since voters approved the expansion of gambling in the state. “We believe that what is good for this community is good for this property and is good for this city,” said Michelle Stoddart, senior vice president of community development for Hotels.
Who fight against gambling addiction or know someone who has it can find help by calling the free and confidential New York State HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369); or by texting HOPENY (467369).