One of the frontrunners for a downstate New York casino license is potentially grooming some future employees.
Resorts World New York City, in partnership with York College, wrapped up its latest Intro to Gaming Operations course. The free, six-week program aims to educate current and future employees in the gaming industry on the “nuanced workings of a casino,” according to a press release, all to “grow their careers and succeed within the industry.”
As Robert DeSalvio, president of Resorts World ownership group Genting Americas East, put it: The course helps “open career pathways for hard-working New Yorkers.”
“Intro to Gaming Operations provides a holistic picture of an industry that requires professionals across the spectrum. This course has prepared participants with the best understanding of how those professionals work together, help each other, and ensure their entire community succeeds.”
Resorts World NYC bolsters casino workforce
First launched in May 2022, Intro to Gaming Operations was designed by Resorts World NYC in collaboration with the economics and business departments at York College. The course provides insight into the casino business – specifically on slots and table games, information technology, marketing, hotel operations, and security.
“A partnership like ours, an Institution of higher education and a Business with an international footprint and a local Queens presence serves its community in so many valuable ways,” Claudia V. Schrader, interim president of York College, said in a press release, “providing a behind the scenes glimpse, which in some cases resulted in employment, a promotion or simply a different point of view.”
This course, which expects to pick back up in fall 2024, was created with the mission to create a trained workforce, which will certainly be needed over the next few years.
After all, state regulators could award three downstate casino licenses by the end of 2025, one of which many project will go to Resorts World.
DeSalvio: ‘robust’ workforce needed ‘to meet the demand in years ahead’
Resorts World has committed itseld to strengthening the casino industry workforce, and not only through this six-week course. Earlier this year, Resorts World announced the launch of the company’s largest job outreach initiative in North America.
Beginning this summer, in partnership with the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, Resorts World NYC began a program to train individuals for careers in hospitality and gaming with the goal of creating a skilled, prepared, and diverse workforce throughout the NY casino industry.
At the time of the announcement, DeSalvio emphasized Resorts World’s committment to creating a “robust” workforce “to meet the demand in years ahead.”
There’s little doubt that DeSalvio was hinting at downstate expansion, a licensing process that could allow recipients to offer online casinos in New York once lawmakers legalize iGaming. Of course, Resorts World is among the favorites to earn one of those licenses. In fact, the casino has already introduced plans to invest $5 billion into the property to transform the racino into a full-fledged casino.
