New York: MGM's Empire City Casino upgrades gaming floor with 1,000 new games

New York's Empire City Casino, run by MGM Resorts, has announced the addition of more than 1,000 new games to its gaming floor. The casino floor is the sixth largest in the U.S. and the largest in the company's portfolio. The upgrade provides a brand new experience for guests with "the most up-to-date titles in gaming," replacing almost 20% of the nearly 5,000 slots and electronic table games.

The additions include some of the most popular gaming titles being enjoyed in casinos across the globe, according to MGM, including Light & Wonder's 88 Fortunes Money Coins and Dancing Drums Explosion, Konami Gaming’s Ba Fang Jin Bao and Aristocrat’s Mighty Cash Double Up. 

Empire City, which welcomes 9 million guests annually, expressed a desire to improve the experience by replacing outdated and underperforming games with the newest titles available. Special regulations recently passed by the New York State Gaming Association enabled Empire City to source games from a broader range of vendors, allowing titles from providers such as Aristocrat Gaming, Konami, and Alfastreet. 

Ryan Munroe, executive director of slot operations, who has developed his career with Empire city for over a decade, is responsible for transforming the gaming floor. According to MGM, Munroe has prioritized elevating the gaming experience at Empire City with new games in various denominations ranging from penny slots to games at a $200 max bet per play. He follows many industry reports and analyses to help inform which games will likely be most enjoyed by patrons. 

"If you think the casino floor looks different, you are right," Munroe said, as reported to Bronx Times. "In my 15 years working at Empire City, I can’t remember when we’ve had so many new games hit the gaming floor over a relatively short period."

"MGM Resorts continues to make the necessary investments to ensure a top-tier experience for our guests. Empire City also has some of the industry's highest payouts, meaning that more of the money played at Empire City is returned as payouts to our guests," he added.

According to Munroe, there is no shortage of opportunities to win at Empire City Casino, with multiple six-figure progressive jackpots unique to the casino, rather than typical progressive jackpots shared across various properties. Currently, the three highest jackpots available only for Empire City guests include Bally's Celestial King, which is approaching $600,000; Bally’s Monopoly Millionaire, now more than $500,000; and IGT Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars, at nearly $500,000.

In his current role, Munroe has been actively engaged in MGM Resorts’ preparations to compete for one of the three commercial casino licenses currently available in New York. A commercial casino license would allow Empire City to transition from a limited facility offering video lottery terminals and electronic table games to live-dealer table games, retail sports betting, Vegas-style slots, new and elevated amenities, and world-class entertainment options for the tri-state area and beyond.

Since MGM Resorts acquired Empire City in 2019, the global entertainment and hospitality company has made "significant investments at the venue to enhance the experience for casino guests, racing patrons, and team members alike."