TUXEDO, NY—The Genting Group, the operator of the Resorts World Casino New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, announced on Monday that it plans to vie for one of four casino gaming licenses to be handed out later this year in upstate New York.

The Genting Group, which filed a $1-million application fee with the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board by the April 23rd deadline, is proposing a casino destination resort on the site of the Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center in the town of Tuxedo in Orange County.

The Sterling Forest Resort project, to be built on a 238-acre parcel, will include two hotels— Resorts World Grand and Resorts World Spa that will feature what the company says will be world-class food, beverage, entertainment and shopping. The entire resort will be designed to be LEED-certified.

Other planned amenities include: a 125- acre “Sterling Forest Gardens” designed by a team of leading national garden architects, showcasing different floral and plant displays for each season; additional seasonal fairs to complement the New York Renaissance Faire that is staged on the property each year; and an “Adventure World” attraction to be developed at the current Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center that will be the site of a new first-class ski center. The center will also offer zip-lining, hiking, biking, alpine sliding, motorcycling and other outdoor activities.

“Destination resorts are our specialty, and we are excited to possibly work with the Town of Tuxedo, Orange County and the state of New York to build a facility that will help further bolster the area's thriving tourism economy while fitting squarely in the context of the beautiful Hudson Valley landscape,” says Christian Goode, senior vice president of Genting Americas, Inc.

Genting Americas is also proposing to privately finance the long sought after 15B interchange off of the New York State Thruway. The company has scheduled public meetings tonight and Wednesday with local municipal officials. It also has its plans available for public review at the new Sterling Forest Resort Visitors' Center at Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center that will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April 28 to May 4.

“This project represents a win-win-win for Tuxedo, Orange County and the state of New York and the millions of tourists who travel to this jewel of the Hudson Valley throughout the four seasons,” Goode adds. “The residents of Tuxedo and Orange County will see substantial increase of taxes from Sterling Forest Resort and this will provide the opportunity for reduction in property taxes or increased funding for better infrastructure, services and quality of life initiatives.”

The company, which projects the development will create 2,000 jobs, says it is in discussions with local town officials and countywide leaders on the plans for Sterling Forest Resort and will adjust the proposal based on local input. The company needs a statement of support from the host community to be considered for the gaming license. The deadline to submit applications for the casino license is June 30, 2014. The state Gaming Commission has stated that it will award a total of four casino licenses to be located in the Capital Region, Catskills/Hudson Valley Region and Eastern Southern Tier of New York State by the early fall of this year.