Resort World’s New York casino workers sign letter bashing iGaming bill

Article by : Charles Perrin Feb 20, 2024

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Resort World’s New York casino workers in Queens have expressed their grievances over the potential inclusion of iGaming in the state.

Sen. Joseph Addabbo, who reintroduced Senate Bill 856 (SB856) last month, has attracted plenty of attention over his piece of legislation, and he has been canvassing opinion from his Queen’s constituents on the matter.

While an iGaming bill is deemed as a significant conduit to help bolster revenues in the state, over 700 Queens casino workers have now come out and openly attacked the bill in a signed letter.

Sent under the letterhead of the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council Union, the letter read: “We find it appalling that you are pushing legislation that would hurt workers like us and our industry in order to benefit a handful of companies who are seeking massive profits at our expense.

“When customers come to a racino, VLT (Video Lottery Terminal) parlor, or casino, they support all of our jobs, including cooks, bartenders, servers, maintenance workers, and hotel workers.

“We know that, if instead, they were to game from their homes, workplaces, or elsewhere, their dollars would go straight into the pockets of gaming companies, rather than to support the livelihoods of thousands of New Yorkers who support the state’s gaming industry.”

Addabbo has so far received 35 campaign contributions totaling $77,100 from iGaming companies expressing their support, and according to records, DraftKings and FanDuel have written out checks.

Although Addabbo has refuted claims that iGaming would “cannabilize” jobs, there is no disguising the fact that the prospective bill doesn’t sit well with Queens casino employees.

And Bhav Tibrewal, political director of the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council Union, insists workers need to be heard loud and clear by legislators.

He said: “The iGaming proposal undercuts the best thing about casino gaming in New York: permanent, high-quality jobs that New Yorkers can live and retire on.

“We’ve stated and re-stated our opposition to iGaming to Senator Addabbo and now it’s time for him and other legislators to start hearing it directly from casino workers.”

Addabbo has also suggested that iGaming could generate up to $1 billion in revenue for the state, and considering the high levels of taxes enforced for mobile sports betting, for example, this would represent a huge boon.

New York is currently in the process of working out which operators should land one of the coveted three downstate casino permits, but the iGaming debate is one that is likely to continue to rage on unabated.