🎰 Queens Just Hit the Jackpot — Again 💸✨

Rapper Nas performing at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture.

Move over Times Square, the real action is in Queens! In the latest twist of NYC’s casino wars, a Nas-backed bid for a glamorous new gambling mecca at Aqueduct in Queens just leveled up — and yes, it's throwing shade at Jay-Z along the way.

Here’s the tea: Nas’ team, repping Genting Resorts World, just scored preliminary approval from the state’s siting board to move forward in the high-stakes race for one of three coveted casino licenses. Meanwhile, Jay-Z’s splashy Times Square dream — with Caesars and SL Green — was completely shut down just days earlier due to heavy Broadway backlash.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards couldn’t help but toss in a lyrical jab, channeling Nas' legendary beef:"Sorry Jay-Z. We win again."Yup — it’s giving Ether energy.

🃏 The Nas-backed vision?

• A $5B mega-project at Aqueduct

• Live table games like poker and blackjack

• A concert venue + sports academy with Kenny “The Jet” Smith

  
  

Meanwhile, MGM’s Empire City in Yonkers is also moving up the ladder, snagging a unanimous vote to upgrade from slots to full casino glory. And both these sites (called racinos) already have the local love and revenue clout.

But don’t count NYC out completely — more community votes are on the way, including:

• Bally’s in The Bronx 🏌️‍♂️

• The Coney in Coney Island 🎡

• Hard Rock x Mets owner Steve Cohen near Citi Field ⚾🎸

  
  

So while Jay-Z’s Times Square dream is out of the game (for now), Nas’ Queens comeback is looking like a royal flush. 💯♠️

Stay tuned — the casino battle isn’t over, but Queens just dropped the mic (again). 🎤🗽

#QueensGetsTheMoney #CasinoWars #NasVsJayZRound2