How New York Casino Expansion Affects Atlantic City in 2026

My journey in the world of poker (and later casino, sportsbetting) started more than 20 years ago, when I first attended a low-stakes live tournament. I’ve never looked back since, and have been active in several fields, including being a poker player, a live tournament director, writing online and offline articles about poker, and managing the localization of one of the world's largest online poker rooms. Poker is my home ground, I could never imagine doing a job that is not a part of it. I hope someday I’ll have more time to play live; that's something I've missed in the past few years. A game where luck meets skill - what would be more interesting?

Updated: 2026.04.30

If you love hitting the casino floors on the East Coast, you might have noticed some massive changes, as the New York casino expansion is happening. For decades, Atlantic City was the absolute go-to spot for players in the Northeast. Whether you wanted to play poker, spin the slots, or try your luck at table games, the boardwalk was calling your name.

But now, the game is changing. A massive New York casino expansion is underway, bringing major updates to the local gambling scene. This means less travel time for New Yorkers, but it could spell major trouble for our beloved Atlantic City.

Let’s dive into exactly what is happening and how it affects your next casino trip.

What the New York Casino Expansion Means for You

For a long time, gamblers from New York and Northern New Jersey had to drive down to Atlantic City to get the full casino experience. That is because state laws allowed only full-scale New Jersey casinos to operate in Atlantic City.

Because of this strict rule, South Jersey had almost no competition outside of Philadelphia. If you wanted to play live dealer games – which are classic table games run by a real human instead of a computer machine – you usually had to pack your bags and make the trip.

Now, thanks to the recent New York casino expansion, that old setup is fading away. New York State is finally handing out full commercial casino licenses right in the city limits. This means incredible convenience for you, but serious competition for New Jersey casinos.

New Table Games at Resorts World NYC

The biggest recent news is that Resorts World NYC in Queens just leveled up. Earlier this week, this incredibly popular venue added live table games for the very first time!

Resorts World NYC officially became one of only three properties in the city to snag a full commercial license. To celebrate, they rolled the dice and added a whopping 240 live table games alongside their 2,500 slot machines.

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If you live in NYC or North Jersey, this is fantastic news. You can now play blackjack, craps, and baccarat without paying a toll to leave the state. Just keep in mind that Resorts World NYC does not currently have a poker room. If you are a Texas Hold’em fan, you might still need to travel for a good cash game, or play from the comfort of your home in one of the online poker rooms we have reviewed .

The Future of Atlantic City Gambling and New Jersey Casinos

While New Yorkers are popping champagne, Atlantic City gambling spots are feeling the heat. Atlantic City was once proudly known as the “Las Vegas of the East Coast”. Now, those historic venues are worried that thousands of loyal players will simply stay closer to home.

To give you a clear idea of what is coming, here are the three major casino projects expected to be fully operational by 2030:

Resorts World NYC: Already live with its first phase, featuring hundreds of new table games and thousands of slots.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park: A massive, multi-billion dollar casino complex planned right next to Citi Field in Queens.
Bally’s Bronx: A brand-new, full-scale casino resort planned for the Ferry Point golf course area in the Bronx.

With these three mega-resorts entering the chat, Atlantic City gambling revenues could take a major hit. Historically, AC was the king of poker, even hosting the United States Poker Championship. Since the new NY spots are skipping poker rooms for now, AC might still keep its card-playing crowd.

To offset the revenue loss, some lawmakers are pushing to change the old laws governing New Jersey casinos. They want to allow gambling in Northern New Jersey to keep local players from crossing the border into New York.

In the end, this rivalry is a great thing for players like us. Casinos will have to offer better perks, bigger bonuses, and cooler events to earn our loyalty. Whether you decide to check out the fresh tables at Resorts World NYC or stick with your favorite Atlantic City gambling halls, the next few years are going to be a thrilling ride!