NY casino workers union unwilling to negotiate on iGaming

Article by : Charles Perrin Jan 31, 2024

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New York has plenty of work to do to convince its opponents that iGaming could bring significant material gains, but some aren’t currently willing to compromise, in particular the Hotel Trades Council (HTC).

Senator Joe Addabbo introduced a revised bill (S8185) earlier this month, only for it to be quashed just a few days later by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who refused to make space for iGaming in her executive budget.

While Addabbo tried to alleviate cannabalization concerns that would arise with the heralding of iGaming, the HTC is more worried about preserving all resort jobs where there is a casino housed.

The HTC’s political director Bhav Tibrewal is unapologetic about his strong stance on the matter, even though online casinos are now a part of the fabric in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

He said: “At the end of the day, our organization has one job, and it’s to increase the standard of living in New York state through the creation and preservation of exceptionally good jobs in the gaming industry.

“When you consider it from that perspective, you understand it’s our job to be skeptical of a proposal like this where, no matter how you cut it, it’s not a job creator.”

Although Addabbo put forward a $25 million fund in his bill to supplement casino workers and offset fears about the future of brick-and-mortar establishments, Tibrewal doesn’t see it that way.

He added: “The fund is putting bells and whistles on a job killer. We firmly believe that iGaming harms the best part about casino gaming in New York States, which is jobs.

“In our minds, it’s a no-brainer that it’s the wrong thing to do.”

The HTC represents more than 5,000 gaming workers in New York today, and the union is hoping to add thousands more jobs in the coming years with the addition of three downstate casinos.

However, with the latest news suggesting that the winners of the three downstate licenses might not be announced until 2025 at the earliest, the union will need further reassurances in the meantime if it is going to budge on its hardline stance towards iGaming.