Nas Goes All In: The $5 Billion Casino Move That Just Shook New York

When we talk about hip-hop legends, Nasir “Nas” Jones is always in the conversation. From spitting some of the rawest bars on Illmatic to reshaping Queensbridge’s legacy, Nas has always been more than just a rapper. He’s a businessman, an investor, and now? He’s stepping into a whole new arena: the casino and real estate game.

This move is deeper than just celebrity branding. It’s about ownership, legacy, and one of the boldest power plays New York has seen in years. Let’s break it down.

The $5 Billion Power Play

In 2025, Nas aligned himself with a jaw-dropping $5.5 billion expansion plan for Resorts World Casino in Queens. The vision is less “casino” and more “city within a city.”

The proposal includes:

• Casino Floor: 500,000 sq. ft. of gaming, with 6,000 slot machines and 800 table games.

• Hotels: Nearly 2,000 luxury rooms under the Hyatt Regency brand.

• Entertainment: A 7,000-seat performance venue and massive convention space.

• Food & Drink: 30+ restaurants, lounges, and bars.

• Community Investments: 3,000 units of workforce housing and 50 acres of green park space.

• Innovation Hub: A Resorts World “Innovation Campus” with wellness and STEAM education initiatives.

• Jobs: Over 5,000 union construction jobs and thousands of permanent roles once it opens.

Currently, Resorts World Queens already generates nearly $1 billion in annual gaming revenue and has contributed over $4.5 billion to New York’s Education Fund since opening. This expansion would supercharge its influence and turn Queens into a destination rivaling Las Vegas.

Queens Gave the Green Light

In September 2025, the Queens Community Advisory Committee voted 6–0 in favor of the expansion. Unanimous approval like that is rare for casino projects, which often face pushback. The message is clear: Queens trusts Nas and this vision.

Now, the proposal moves to the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board and then to the New York Gaming Commission. If all goes smoothly, the project is expected to open by mid-2026.

The Shade: Nas vs. Jay-Z, Round Two

And here’s where it gets messy.

Days before Nas’s win, Jay-Z’s Times Square casino bid — backed by Roc Nation and Caesars — was rejected by Manhattan’s advisory board in a 4–2 vote.

Then, when Queens approved Nas’s project, Borough President Donovan Richards couldn’t resist:“Sorry Jay-Z, we win again.”

It’s poetic. Decades after their rap beef, Nas and Jay are still facing off — only this time, the battle is over billion-dollar real estate instead of mic control.

The Bigger Picture: Black Ownership in Casinos

To really understand the weight of Nas’s move, you have to look at the history. Black ownership in the casino industry is extremely rare.

• Don Barden made history in 2002 as the first Black man to own a Las Vegas casino when he purchased three Fitzgeralds casinos.

• Sarann Knight-Preddy became the first Black woman to receive a Nevada gaming license, breaking barriers in the 1950s.

• Even today, fewer than a handful of U.S. casinos are Black-owned. Most are controlled by large corporations, tribal enterprises, or private equity groups.

The systemic barriers — lack of access to capital, discriminatory lending, and political gatekeeping — have long kept Black entrepreneurs out of the gaming industry. That’s why Nas’s presence in such a massive project isn’t just symbolic; it’s potentially revolutionary.

The Promise vs. ⚠️ The Risks

The Promise:

• Thousands of jobs for Queens residents.

• Housing and infrastructure upgrades.

• Representation at the table in a multibillion-dollar industry.

• Cementing Queens as a global entertainment hub.

The Risks:

• Casinos bring gambling addiction, policing, and gentrification.

• Housing and job promises don’t always materialize equitably.

• Nas’s role — is it deep equity ownership or just branding power? That matters for true representation.

Nas once told us, “I know I can, be what I wanna be.” And this casino project proves it’s more than just words — it’s empire building.

If successful, this will mark one of the most significant examples of Black influence in an industry that has historically shut us out. But the stakes are high.

Will Queens really get the uplift promised, or will it be another billion-dollar deal where the community gets crumbs?

One thing’s for sure: Nas is playing the long game. And just like in hip-hop, the world is watching Queens.

👉 Question for you: Is Nas’s casino project a win for Black ownership and the community, or just another flashy gamble? Drop your thoughts in the comments — let’s talk.