Two advisory committees on Thursday unanimously voted to advance proposals to expand the Resorts World casino at Aqueduct Raceway in Queens and the Empire City Casino in Yonkers.

A Community Advisory Committee in Queens voted 6-0 Thursday afternoon in favor of Resorts World’s plan to expand its existing casino operation. The plan includes a $5.5 billion investment and a 7,000-seat entertainment venue. Since the casino plan is an expansion of an existing casino, developers say it could be ready to operate as soon as July 2026.

Earlier on Thursday, a separate Community Advisory Committee voted 5-0 in favor of MGM Resorts’ proposal in Yonkers, which includes a $2.3 billion investment towards building a larger casino, along with new restaurants, a theater and a parking garage.

The Resorts World plan was the first bid to pass a Community Advisory Committee vote within the confines of the five boroughs. MGM Resorts’ plan was the first bid to pass a committee vote in the greater New York City area.

Earlier this month, advisory committees shot down three proposals for casinos in Manhattan, effectively killing any plans to put a gambling center in the borough. Those bids were for completely new casino construction, as opposed to expanding an existing casino.

There are three more final casino votes in the city. Commitees will vote for The Coney in Brooklyn and Bally’s New York Casino in the Bronx on Monday, and Metropolitan Park in Queens on Tuesday.

Each proposal will ultimately need to be granted a license by New York state to move forward. A yes vote from the advisory committee does not guarantee that a casino bid will be granted a license by the state, but a no vote effectively means the proposal is dead.

The state is set to hand out three licenses by the end of the year.