Since the dawn of time, people have loved to place bets and wagers on games. Commercial gambling, like what is seen today in resorts like the Bicycle Hotel and Casino started in 1931, when Nevada made commercial gambling legal, just after the Prohibition.
Five Types of Legal Gambling
In the United States, five types of gambling exist that are legal:
- Commercial casino gambling.
- Pari-mutuel wagering.
- Native American gaming.
- Loterries.
- Charitable gambling.
In casinos and casino hotels, you will find pari-mutuel gambling, Native American gambling, and commercial casino gambling. Lotteries, by contrast, are state and government administered. Charitable gambling is organized by nonprofits in order to raise funds.
The Gambling Industry and the Economy
According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), commercial gambling is a huge contributor to the overall economy of this country. According to their report, few other sectors are as labor intensive, require as much capital expenditure, and support as many external suppliers and vendors. In 2012, gaming revenues reached $37.34 billion, which was a 4.8% year on year increase. In 2012, the industry employed 332,000 people directly, paying $13.2 billion in wages. The states with the greatest number of casino employees were Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.
There are a number of major casino corporations, and the majority of those are also hotels. Usually, they also have foreign properties, with Macau in China being the major location. Those that do not own foreign properties are considering it.
Native American casinos are truly unique to the United States. The federal government recognizes them, and they are found in 28 different states. In 2014, their gross revenue was $28.5 billion, employing 339,000 people directly in 2011. Additionally, a further 80,000 people are employed in hotels and restaurants associated with these casinos.
Careers in the Casino Industry
There are lots of career opportunities within casinos and their associated resorts. The most popular careers on the floor of the casino include:
- Gaming managers.
- Gaming dealers.
- Slot machine supervisors.
- Runners.
- Sports book writers.
Other jobs, which are more behind the scenes, also exist, including:
- Software development.
- Security.
- Restaurant management.
- Public relations.
- Legal affairs.
- Information technology.
- Human resources.
- Hotel management.
- High-end retail.
- Food service.
- Event production.
- Finance.
- Business.
- Advertising.
- Accounting
Interestingly, while a popular career option, floor positions tend to pay very low salaries, much lower than the average in other jobs. However, it is glamorous type of career, which makes it attractive, and there is the possibility of supplementing an income thanks to tips. Furthermore, those who are experience in floor positions can find work all over the country and even abroad. What also makes it attractive is that the educational requirements are very low and promotion opportunities are plentiful. As a result, a good and safe bet to make is on a career in the casino industry, particularly for those who are passionate about customer service and who like to work directly with people.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.