Nas Helps Launch NYC’s First Full-Fledged Casino, Performs At Opening

Up until now, degenerate gamblers in New York City had to travel down to Atlantic City or up to Mohegan Sun if they wanted the full casino gambling experience. No more! On Tuesday, Resorts World, a division of a Malaysian entertainment conglomerate, held the grand opening for Resorts World New York City, the city's first full-fledged casino. One of the company's partners in this venture is Queens rap legend Nas, who was right there for the casino opening. He was one of the first to roll dice at the casino's craps table, and then he performed a quick set at the ceremony.

Last year, Nas and his former rival Jay-Z were both involved in bids to acquire gambling licenses and open New York City casinos. Once again, Nas won. Jay's Roc Nation company hoped to partner with Caesars and and Sl Green Realty to open a Times Square casino, but a city advisory board shut that bid down. But Nas and Resorts World got the full gambling license that they needed, and the new casino new Queens Aqueduct Racetrack is now open.

Since 2011, Resorts World had operated as a successful electronic games parlor, as The New York Times reports. Yesterday morning, hundreds of gamblers came out for the grand opening of the proper casino. Because the parlor was already operational, Resorts World only needed to do a quick renovation, opening the casino just months after getting the license.

Nas is still making music, but he's been trumpeting his business ventures on recent records like his long-awaited 2025 DJ Premier collaboration Light-Years, calling himself stuff like "Mr. Cryptocurrency Scarface." At yesterday's opening, Nas wore a tux and stood next to KT Lim, chief executive of Resorts World's parent company Genting Berhad, as he gave the casino its first ceremonial dice roll. Then Nas jumped up on a small stage and performed, telling the crowd, "Now you seeing something different — hip-hop and the casino world coming together."