Washington, DC – Mississippi’s 30 commercial casinos employed 22,770 permanent workers and paid its employees $831 million in wages, benefits and tips, according to new jobs numbers for 2013 released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Mississippi ranks third nationwide for casino employment behind only Nevada and New Jersey; Louisiana ranks fourth with nearly 16,000 casino employees. Despite two casinos closing in the state, the Biloxi market continues to remain strong and experience growth in the face of competition from surrounding states.
“While casino gaming in Mississippi has faced challenges as it adapts to increased competition, the industry continues to support thousands of jobs 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 Mississippi policymakers who are working with casinos in order to continue strengthening their communities as they face increased competition from neighboring states.”
Mississippi is home to 30 commercial casinos, including:
Beau Rivage Resort and Casino Biloxi;
Grand Biloxi Casino Hotel and Spa;
Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi;
Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis; and
Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Lula.
Jobs in gaming include: accounting; hotel management; information systems; technology; software; food and beverage; retail; entertainment and more.
In 2013, Mississippi casinos generated almost $258 million in tax revenue, which paid for housing, education, transportation, health care services, youth counseling programs and local public safety programs.
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 about gaming.
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.