New momentum in the land-based casino industry is reshaping where and how Americans and international tourists will gamble, dine and be entertained over the next decade. From New York City’s recent award of three metropolitan resort licenses to global resort rollouts and a wave of Las Vegas rebrands and expansions, casino operators are doubling down on large-scale, experience-first projects that blur hospitality, entertainment and real estate development.
Big win for New York – and a test for urban casino models
On January 26, 2026, New York’s state Gaming Commission granted licenses for three Las Vegas-style resort casinos in the New York City metro area – a Hard Rock complex adjacent to Citi Field in Queens, Bally’s at Ferry Point in the Bronx and a major expansion of Resorts World at Aqueduct in Queens. The moves mark the city’s first full-scale resort casinos and, according to state estimates, could generate billions in tax revenue while creating tens of thousands of jobs. The decision carries conditions including independent monitors to enforce promised community investments and compliance, and it has already sparked legal challenges and protests from opponents worried about social harms. The commission’s action signals a major shift: operators are targeting dense, high-value urban markets rather than relying solely on traditional tourist corridors. AP News
Global expansion and the luxury integrated-resort race
Beyond the U.S., major developers are pursuing high-profile, land-based projects that position casinos as anchors for broader destination ecosystems. Wynn Resorts’ licensed, multibillion-dollar integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, remains a landmark example of regulated casino expansion into new jurisdictions – a cautious rollout meant to attract tourists and diversify local economies. In Asia, MGM and other operators are advancing massive integrated-resort projects in Japan after local approvals and groundbreaking milestones in 2025, aiming for openings later this decade. These overseas developments reflect a strategic focus on long-lead, high-margin resorts where luxury hotels, entertainment arenas and convention space lock in year-round demand.
Las Vegas and domestic product refreshes: more rooms, more dining, more spectacle
On the Strip and in Nevada’s resort markets, operators continue to renovate, expand and rebrand existing assets to compete with new entrants and changing guest tastes. Recent openings and conversions – including boutique rebrands, tower expansions and multi-hundred-million-dollar casino-floor refreshes – emphasize culinary drawcards, celebrity chef partnerships, integrated entertainment venues and upgraded convention capacity. Operators are also reimagining loyalty programs and floor mixes to balance table games, slots and new skill-based offerings that appeal to younger clientele. Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks and experiential non-gaming amenities are being woven into property plans as operators pursue diversified revenue streams after the pandemic-era boom in online wagering.
Why this matters: the sector’s trend lines show land-based casinos evolving into multiuse urban and resort developments that aim to capture tourism, convention and local markets simultaneously. Regulators and communities are closely watching promised job creation, tax flows and the social-impact tradeoffs of placing massive casino resorts in or near dense population centers. For investors and local policymakers, the pivotal questions are whether projected revenues materialize, how operators deliver on community benefits, and whether the concentrated licensing model (as in New York) becomes a template for other U.S. metros.
What to watch next
Court challenges and community oversight activity around the newly awarded New York licenses over the coming months, which could delay construction timelines and alter project terms.
Progress updates and construction milestones from Wynn in the UAE and MGM’s projects in Japan, which will indicate how quickly global integrated-resort capacity comes online.
Spring and summer 2026 financial reports from major operators detailing how domestic expansions, Vegas rebrands and retail sportsbook trends affected visitation and gaming revenue in Q1.