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New York’s downstate casino expansion is being framed as more than a hiring story. State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. said the buildout is ultimately about creating long-term careers, pointing to training partnerships already tied to Resorts World New York City’s expansion in Queens.
Addabbo told casino.com that when he first worked on the downstate casino licenses, he focused on job creation, but now sees a broader workforce-development opportunity through programs that prepare local residents for gaming and hospitality roles.
Addabbo points to jobs now and career mobility later
According to Addabbo, the three downstate casino licenses awarded by the New York Gaming Commission in December 2025 are expected to create more than 10,000 jobs. He said around 5,000 post-construction jobs will be added in the next few years.
He also highlighted the range of roles a full casino resort needs, including maintenance workers, cooks, bakers, hotel staff, restaurant supervisors, banquet workers, housekeepers, event personnel, security staff and guest-service professionals.
For players, that does not change New York’s gambling rules, but it does show how the state’s casino expansion is moving beyond licensing and into staffing, training and on-the-ground operations.
Resorts World training partnerships are already producing hires
Resorts World New York City and York College launched a gaming and hospitality training program in 2022, and the program has trained more than 350 local residents in gaming operations.
A separate agreement with Kingsborough Community College was finalized in December 2025. The first cohort began on Feb. 3, 2026, and graduated on Feb. 28, ahead of Resorts World’s full casino floor launch on April 28.
In early April, Resorts World began orientation for 1,250 new employees. When live table games opened, the property employed about 2,200 people, with another 500 expected by early summer.
Kingsborough offers hospitality, culinary and tourism-related programs, including a culinary track with more than 600 hours of kitchen training and an industry internship. Resorts World’s planned expansion also includes more than 30 food and beverage outlets, giving those programs a direct connection to future hiring needs.
What to watch next in Queens
The next major milestone is Phase Two of Resorts World’s $5.5 billion project, which broke ground on July 22. The company says the broader project is expected to create 10,000 jobs by 2031, including about 5,000 union construction positions.
The open question is how quickly the broader downstate buildout moves from awarded licenses to additional operating milestones beyond Resorts World. For now, Queens is offering the clearest example of how casino expansion is translating into training pipelines and new jobs.
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Source: As reported by Ziv Chen.
