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The Facts on Gaming
Casinos provide employment opportunities.
Casinos are large employers of citizens in and around the communities where they are located. Of the six neighboring casinos in Indiana and Illinois, their average employment is 1,399 employees per casino (Exhibit A).
Exhibit A - Indiana & Illinois Casinos Along Kentucky’s Border
Name |
FY 2006 Admissions |
FY 2006 Gaming Taxes |
Total Employment |
| Argosy Casino , IN |
3,878,576 |
$157,720,149 |
2,016 |
| Belterra Casino, IN |
1,909,606 |
$47,120,426 |
1,131 |
| Caesars Indiana, IN |
3,469,787 |
$109,366,850 |
2,148 |
| Casino Aztar, IN |
1,539,804 |
$34,409,591 |
1,174 |
| Grand Victoria , IN |
1,875,360 |
$43,409,591 |
1,031 |
| Harrah’s Metropolis, IL |
1,304,237 |
$51,422,271 |
892 |
| Average Employment |
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1,399 |
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission 2006 Annual Report & Illinois Gaming Board 2006 Report
Looking at states near Kentucky or similar in size (Exhibit B), the average casino employee’s annual salary is $33,106. Already Turfway Park in Boone County has estimated that if Turfway were allowed to expand and offer casino services, they plan to build an impressive $250 million-plus facility which would create an estimated 1,200 jobs with a payroll of $30 million-plus and annual salaries of around $32,000.1
Exhibit B - Casino Jobs & Average Wages 2006
State |
# of Casino Jobs |
2006 Casino Employee Wages |
Average Salary Per Employee |
| Illinois |
8,819 |
$332,800,000 |
$37,737 |
| Indiana |
16,000 |
$609,500,000 |
$38,094 |
| Mississippi |
26,010 |
$771,300,000 |
$29,654 |
| Missouri |
10,900 |
$330,000,000 |
$30,275 |
| Total |
61,729 |
$2,043,600,000 |
$33,106 |
Source: State of the States 2007 American Gaming Association Survey of Casino Entertainment
Both the annual salary figures ($33,106 and $32,000 Turfway projected) exceed the average per capita income of Kentuckians ($29,352).2
Sources:
- Bob Elliston, President, Turfway Park
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business 2006
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