Resorts World NYC Opens First High-Roller Table Game Room in City History

Resorts World New York City has made history by opening the International Room, the first legal high-stakes casino table game venue in New York City. The 13,657-square-foot high-limit gaming area, which opened on October 22, 2026, represents a watershed moment for the state's gaming industry and signals the maturation of the city's casino operations.

The International Room features 48 table games spread across three private gaming salons, offering high-limit baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. Guests have around-the-clock access to food and beverage service without leaving the high-limit space, and the private parlors can be customized to individual preferences with enhanced entertainment options including kakaraoke. This full-service approach reflects VIP hospitality standards typically found in Las Vegas and other major gaming destinations.

Prior to this opening, affluent New York players seeking high-stakes table game play had no legal option within the city and were forced to travel to other jurisdictions. By bringing this tier of gaming in-house, Resorts World has closed a significant gap in New York's gaming market and likely aims to capture revenue that was previously hemorrhaging to competing properties. The specific minimum bet levels for the International Room had not been disclosed at the time of publication, though Las Vegas high-limit rooms typically operate with minimums ranging from several hundred dollars to over $5,000 per hand depending on demand and timing.

The International Room opening coincides with Resorts World's 15th anniversary of operations in Queens and is part of a broader first-floor expansion that added 57 table games and 147 slot machines to the property. The casino now operates nearly 300 tables and over 4,000 Las Vegas-style slot machines across two levels. This expansion was made possible after Resorts World secured a full-scale gaming license following its selection by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, with the operational concession approved in December 2025.

The opening also marks the public culmination of a $5.5 billion overhaul at the former Aqueduct Racetrack site near JFK International Airport. Beyond gaming, this redevelopment includes nearly 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat arena, dozens of restaurants and bars, and 11 acres of green space. Queens native Nas served as the public face of Resorts World's campaign for the downstate New York casino license, appearing at the International Room's opening.

From a market perspective, the International Room represents New York's continued evolution from a racino jurisdiction into a full-scale commercial casino market. The addition of premium high-limit gaming addresses a gap in the state's portfolio and reflects operator confidence in the long-term viability of New York gaming. As the market matures and competition intensifies among New York's gaming properties, expect high-limit amenities to become table stakes rather than differentiators.