Casino’s Second Floor Opens To Public
By DOMENICK RAFTER
Resorts World Casino New York City President Michael Speller glanced over the railing in the casino's second floor Liberty Bar down to the stage at Bar360; his arms behind his back, his expression a mix of relief and excitement. Behind him, workers carried ladders across the freshly-laid carpet, eyeing the light fixtures to make sure each is working properly while workers test the remaining video lottery terminals.
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| Assemblymembers Mike Simanowitz and Phil Goldfeder, Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz and Community Board 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio were among those at the opening of the second gaming floor at Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack on Dec. 16. Tribune Photos by Ira Cohen
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A decade after casino gambling was authorized at Aqueduct Racetrack, 14 months after ground broke on the site, and seven weeks after the first bets were placed in the 2,280 VLTs on the casino's first floor, the second and third floors of the complex, including two restaurants and 70,000 square feet of event space, opened to the public at 1 p.m. on Dec. 16.
The second floor, called the Fifth Avenue Casino, is designed to be more sophisticated and geared toward those who are serious gamers, Speller explained. He described it as "more conservative looking" and "aimed to capture the attention of those going out of state for their gaming experience." The spaces between the slot machines are wider and many of the games have higher limits.
Also on the second floor is Crockfords Casino- a private invitation-only lounge for VIP guests hidden away from the main casino floor. Crockfords includes 64 VLTs and 14 Electronic Table Games with limits as high as $25 per bet. Speller said the casino is named for the oldest operating casino in the world, Crockfords Casino in London, which has been operating since 1828.
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| Two restaurants including Genting Palace (above) opened as well. |
The casino's two main restaurants include RW Prime, a steakhouse, and Genting Palace, a gourmet Chinese restaurant. RW Prime's dark wood walls and rustic interior invoke the feeling of a classy New York City steakhouse. An interesting element of the steakhouse is its open kitchen. Diners can look directly into the kitchen and watch their food being cooked. The design is common in other facilities owned by Genting, including newer Norwegian Cruise Lines ships,Resorts World NYC's Vice President of VIP Marketing Dana Leibovitz said. Speller added that the concept of the open kitchen aims to let the customers and the chefs interact in a unique way.
"It gives diners the opportunity to watch their steak being cooked and allows the chefs to show off their skills," Speller said.
Across the hall, Genting Palace features ornate light fixtures and seafood tanks lining the wall. Both restaurants feature private dining areas for bigger parties.
On the third floor of the complex, the Central Park floor is 70,000 square feet of open event space - the largest event space in Queens and is already being offered for large events. The room can be divided, but Resorts World NYC spokesman Stefan Freidman said the goal is to bring large events like trade shows or galas, events that would normally shun Queens because of the lack of event space.
The only part of the site remaining is the covered skybridge to the A train subway station. While work is continuing on the bridge, the final design of the actual subway station is still under negotiation, Speller said. The casino is a short walk from the North Conduit Avenue A train stop and can be accessed by the Q37 bus.
Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400 Ext. 125.