A $5 billion casino backed by hip hop icon Nas just got the thumbs up from a state board, putting Queens one step closer to hosting one of New York’s next full-service gaming venues. This win comes right after Jay-Z’s high-profile Times Square proposal was shut down by the same state process.
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“There’s a theme in Queens and I know Nas is a part of it,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, celebrating the move. “Queens gets the money!”
And he didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at Jay-Z’s loss: “Sorry Jay-Z. We win again. I just had to rub it in.”
Nas is partnering with Genting’s Resorts World to turn the existing racino at Aqueduct into a Vegas-style casino. The plan includes live table games, a concert venue, and a sports academy with NBA analyst and Queens native Kenny “The Jet” Smith. Jay-Z’s rejected bid, a collaboration with Caesars and SL Green, ran into stiff opposition from Broadway leaders and Manhattan residents. Every Manhattan bid was denied at this stage.
Richards was one of six board members who unanimously approved the Queens project, giving it momentum as the state Gaming Commission prepares to issue up to three licenses by year’s end.
The casino race continues, but Queens is now a front-runner, with Nas leading the charge.
