In December 2025, New York approved three casino licenses for projects in and around New York City. Sullivan County had good reason to follow the vote. Resorts World Catskills has been drawing visitors north since 2018, and new places to gamble closer to the city could mean fewer people making that drive.

Months before the decision, the county commissioned a study on how downstate competition might affect jobs, local taxes, and spending around the resort.

A Hotel Stay Changes the Economics

Resorts World Catskills opened in the Town of Thompson in 2018. Guests come for the gaming floor, but some also book rooms, dine locally, or make other stops during a trip. A visitor who spends the weekend in Sullivan County has a different impact from someone who drives in, gambles for a few hours, and heads straight home.

Restaurants and shops outside the resort have more to gain from overnight visitors. Resort employees also spend their wages in the area. Meanwhile, the revival of downtown Ellenville has highlighted businesses and cultural projects giving people another reason to visit the area.

The Drive Is Part of the Decision

Casino customers don’t all want the same kind of outing. Some plan a weekend around a hotel, dinner, and entertainment. Others want a few hours at the tables and the easiest journey home. A closer casino is likely to be more attractive to that second group, especially if the games are familiar.

Convenience plays a part in online gambling, too, although New York still doesn’t permit real-money online casino games. In states where they’re legal, someone comparing the fastest payout online casino​ may be concerned mainly with withdrawal times and payment methods. That person isn’t necessarily looking for a weekend away.

That leaves destination resorts competing on the whole trip, including what guests can do once they’ve left the casino.

New York City’s Casino Plans Are Taking Shape

The New York State Gaming Commission approved three downstate casino projects: Bally’s in the Bronx, Metropolitan Park near Citi Field in Queens, and an expansion of Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct.

The projects won’t all affect Sullivan County at once. Resorts World New York City added live table games in April 2026, giving some downstate players a nearby option for blackjack and roulette. The Bronx and Metropolitan Park developments require construction and will have a longer lead time.

A Queens resident can now find traditional table games without making the drive up Route 17. That’s a meaningful change for Resorts World Catskills, which previously faced fewer nearby competitors offering those games.

Sullivan County Has Reason to Watch

An April 2025 analysis commissioned by Sullivan County estimated that Resorts World Catskills supported roughly 1,486 jobs when indirect economic activity was included. It also modeled the possible effects of one new downstate casino, including a $51 million annual reduction in the Catskills resort’s gross gaming revenue.

In the same scenario, the study projected:

• Jobs: Almost 400 positions potentially lost through direct and wider economic effects.
• Household earnings: About $13.8 million in annual income at risk.
• Local tax revenue: An estimated $2.3 million annual decline.

These figures describe a scenario, not losses already recorded. They were calculated before the state selected its license recipients, and the eventual impact will depend on opening schedules, visitor habits, and how the existing resort adapts.

What Happens Outside the Gaming Floor

Travelers already come to the Catskills for trails, music venues, restaurants, and small towns. Those attractions give the area something to offer visitors who aren’t interested in spending an entire weekend gambling. They also give casino guests reasons to venture beyond the resort.

Still, the county’s concerns are grounded in the amount of money and employment tied to one large property. As the new casinos open and expand, changes in hotel bookings, staffing, local tax receipts, and spending will be worth watching. The licenses went to New York City projects, but Sullivan County businesses may feel the consequences.