Revenues Up But Casino Employment Down
While news that US gambling revenues increased by 5.3% to $34 billion compared to 2007 was well received, there was no such uplift on the casino employment side. Figures from the American Gaming Association also show that 8,500 casino workers were made redundant in 2007 leaving around 360,000 depending on the industry for employment. So what does this mean?
The increase in revenue was welcomed in the sector but the employment figures were a little disappointing. It is unclear whether there has been a move to gambling options which require less supervision, or whether casino operations themselves have become more efficient over the last twelve months–either way it doesn’t look too good for the sector as a whole and especially the workforce in 2008.
The internet ban has assisted the revenue flow for casinos in the US, but there is a real problem with the anti-smoking lobby. Many state authorities are looking to bring in blanket smoking bans over the next twelve months and there are real fears that this will impact sharply on the industry. The last thing the casino industry needs at the moment is another reason for customers to stay away. A smoking ban has the potential to reduce the footfall of the whole industry.
At a time when the economy is struggling, unemployment is on the rise and the cost of living is getting higher and higher, it is surprising that numerous state authorities are looking to bring in the smoking ban at this time. While casino owners will have a lot to say about the move, the unions will no doubt be looking to protect their members’ employment at the same time. It seems that casino owners may well be caught between a rock and a hard place.
