Washington, DC – Iowa’s 18 commercial casinos employed 9,062 permanent workers and paid its employees nearly $335 million in wages, benefits and tips, according to new jobs numbers for 2013 released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Iowa ranks ninth nationwide for casino employment, while Missouri ranks seventh with more than 10,000 casino employees.
“Casino gaming has created thousands of jobs in Iowa that pay well above the minimum wage and offer fulfilling careers in a range of professions that extend beyond the casino floor,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “Americans feel more favorably toward casino gaming than ever before, and they recognize that gaming creates jobs, boosts small businesses and positively affects local communities. We applaud Iowa policymakers who are working with casinos in order to continue strengthening their communities as they face increased competition from neighboring states.”
Iowa is home to 18 commercial casinos, including:
Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs;
Horseshoe Council Bluffs;
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo;
Lady Luck Casino Marquette; and
Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque.
Jobs in gaming include: accounting; hotel management; information systems; technology; software; food and beverage; retail; entertainment and more.
In 2013, Iowa casinos generated nearly $322 million in tax revenue, which supported the state’s general fund, local education, infrastructure, environmental programs, cultural initiatives and tourism projects.
With gaming present in more markets today, consumers are no longer limited to a handful of options. Therefore, just as casinos are competing against each other, states are striving to implement the most favorable environment for gaming to thrive and benefit their communities. Gaming is viewed more favorably than ever, and it behooves lawmakers to adopt policies based on facts aboutgaming.
The AGA's “Get to Know Gaming” campaign is helping to pave the way for more states to view casino operators as partners and adopt policies that reflect that mindset. The vast majority of voters across the political spectrum recognize that casino gaming creates jobs, strengthens local businesses and benefits communities.