Three NYC casinos are expected to create thousands of quality union jobs.
December 31, 2025This December, the New York State Gaming Commission awarded casino licenses to three operators: Resorts World NYC in Queens, Metropolitan Park (Hard Rock) near Citi Field, and Bally’s in the Bronx at Ferry Point. These projects are expected to create as many as 14,000 permanent union jobs.
Three casino projects have been awarded licenses after a 15-year effort to expand gaming.
On December 15, the New York State Gaming Commission awarded casino licenses to all three operators left in the running. This marks the final step of the years-long approval process and allows the three operators to move forward with their proposals.
Resorts World NYC | Queens
The licenses will allow Resorts World NYC, a pre-existing video lottery terminal where workers are already represented by HTC, to offer live table games. Resorts World NYC is projecting that it will be able to hire hundreds of Table Games Dealers and begin offering live table games by early spring of 2026.
Metropolitan Park | Queens
The licenses also allow for the construction of a brand-new casino by Metropolitan Park near Citi Field. This new casino is currently projected to open in 2030 and will be operated by Hard Rock.
Bally’s | Bronx
A third casino will be built next to Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx. The Bally’s casino is also projected to open its doors in 2030.
The new casinos are expected to create thousands of new, permanent jobs.
It’s up to our union to make sure these new gaming jobs are excellent, union jobs.
In 2002, our union convinced New York elected officials to require labor peace for any new casino projects. Our labor peace agreements mean the workers will be able to join our union without facing intimidation, retaliation, or an anti-union campaign from management.
Training to become a Table Games Dealer
Our union is offering a free multi-week course for members who are interested in working as Table Games Dealers at the new casinos. The Dealer Training Program will teach the art of dealing various table games, including Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. The current program is 20 hours per week over 9 weeks. Interested members should fill out this form. The Benefit Funds’ Industry Training Program (“ITP”) administers the classes. ITP eligibility rules will apply.
How did we get here?
In the early 2000s, our union predicted that gaming would eventually come to New York on a large scale. We knew that new casino development often went hand in hand with nearby hotel development, and we didn’t want a large non-union gaming industry operating in our backyard and eroding the high standards that we had already set in the region’s hotel industry.
Before HTC, gaming jobs in New York were low wage, low benefit jobs.
Before our union, workers at Resorts World NYC were making an average of $10/hour. Most worked inconsistent schedules and struggled to afford healthcare. In many cases, workers had to rely on government assistance or take on extensive debt to make ends meet.
This changed in 2013, when we won our first ever gaming contract at Resorts World NYC. This contract forever changed the trajectory of gaming jobs in New York. Wages at Resorts World NYC doubled immediately – and went on to triple by the end of the initial five-year contract. Workers gained affordable healthcare for themselves and their families, they won a pension plan, and they stopped being treated like on-call workers.
Today, the contract at Resorts World NYC is closely tied to our union’s master contract in New York City.
Our union currently represents 5,000+ workers in the gaming industry all across New York.
In the nearly 15 years since we first organized Resorts World NYC, three full-scale casinos opened upstate. As each project got off the ground, our union organized the workers and made sure that new gaming jobs became good, union jobs.
Today, our union represents over 5,000 workers at gaming locations across New York, including Resorts World NYC, Resorts World Catskills, Resorts World Hudson Valley, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, del Lago Resort and Casino, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Empire City Casino by MGM, NYRA, and more. Under all of our gaming contracts, wages have increased dramatically, the cost of healthcare has been slashed, and workers enjoy job security, the right to a steady schedule, and a pension.
Our union’s growth in gaming is important for all HTC members.
In the coming years, as Resorts World NYC expands and the Metropolitan Park and Bally’s casinos open, our union will be organizing the workers and fighting for them at the bargaining table. Our efforts will not only create thousands of life-changing jobs in the five boroughs – they will increase our union density, strengthen our union, and protect the high standards we’ve fought for in the hotel and gaming industries.