New York: Promises and excuses

New York casino developers are enumerating the economic benefits for their prospective employees. Make no mistake, many of the jobs will be entry-level, minimum-wage employment. Saratoga Casino & Raceway is predicted a 47%/30% split between unskilled and skilled employees, with managerial jobs topping out at $180,000/year. In general, would-be casino owners predict a $30,000-$70,000. Alabama firm Greenetrack is pretty “george,” promising $20/hour salaries. Genting Group has upped the ante to $50,000/year for workers at its proposed Sterling Forest Resort (above). That’s been matched by Caesars Entertainment, which proposes to employee 3,000 souls, what’s more.

This all compares favorably to Atlantic City where the median wage is below $30,000/year and the minimum wage for tipped employees is a meager $2.13. In New York, it’s $4.50, soon to go up to $5.05. (Both Saratoga and Nevele Investors are working with local colleges to develop hospitality and gaming curriculum.)

When state gaming commissioners weigh where to put casinos, they may have a harder time than expected in choosing between Sullivan County and Orange County. Sullivan’s unemployment rate is higher (7%) but fewer people — 2,200 — are out of work. The jobless rate in Orange County is but 5%, but that represents 8,900 people. That’s going to be a difficult consideration to weigh.

* New York State leads the U.S. in gambling revenues, so its racinos could absorb a damp first half of the year. And indeed, managements are racing for the “God did it” excuse (“Weekend after weekend of rain and snow most certainly had a chilling effect on our first quarter numbers.”) to explain away declines in revenues. At least Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D, left), chairman of the Racing Committee, was on terra firma when “said the racinos’ recent woes are indicative of a struggling gambling market across the nation.” Pretlow’s consequently fielding requests from the industry for longer hours of operation and an increase in free-play allowances.

Net win at the tracks was off 2%, although two racinos defied the odds. Batavia Downs was up 9% and Resorts World New York also saw a gain. Losers included Tioga Downs (-8%), Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway (-7%) and Buffalo Raceway (-18%). Strange how all that rain and snow depressed Empire City’s results but didn’t hurt proximate Resorts World’s.

* Las Vegas‘ Spanish-language populace continues to grow in importance and the Lucky Club has added bilingual bingo to its offerings. S&G applauds the move — and deplores the cascade of cretins posting racist comments on the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Web site … an aftereffect from the paper’s many years of promoting intolerance.