Nearly 700 Queens casino employees are blasting a bill that might legalize online betting within the Empire State – saying it’s an attack on their jobs
Employees at Resorts World casino at Aqueduct signed a letter accusing state Sen. Joe Addabbo, who has been pushing gaming laws since 2019.
“We discover it appalling that you just are pushing laws that might hurt employees like us and our industry in an effort to profit a handful of firms who’re searching for massive profits at our expense,” said the letter, sent under the letterhead of the influential Hotel & Gaming Trades Council union.
It’s a rare rebuke from inside Latest York’s gambling sector leveled on the Democrat, who chairs the Senate committee on racing, gaming and wagering.
Employees at Resorts World casino at Aqueduct in Queens blasted a bill that might legalize online betting in Latest York. Matthew McDermott
The Resorts World facility borders Addabo’s district and most of the employees represented by the labor union are his constituents.
The underside line, the employees said, is that individuals betting online won’t visit or spend money at brick-and-mortar casinos.
“When customers come to a racino, VLT [Video Lottery Terminal] parlor, or casino, they support all of our jobs, including cooks, bartenders, servers, maintenance employees, and hotel employees,” the union letter said.
“We all know that if, as an alternative, they were to game from their homes, workplaces, or elsewhere, their dollars would go straight into the pockets of gaming firms, quite than to support the livelihoods of 1000’s of Latest Yorkers who support the state’s gaming industry,” the employees added.
The letter accused state Sen. Joe Addabbo of “pushing laws that might hurt employees like us and our industry.” Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Bhav Tibrewal, political director of the union, said it’s time to boost the stakes with Addabbo.
“This iGaming proposal undercuts one of the best thing about casino gaming in Latest York: everlasting, high-quality jobs that Latest Yorkers can live and retire on, Tibrewal said. “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 out hearing it directly from casino employees.”
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Addabbo has received 35 campaign contributions totalling $77,100 from iGaming firms and associates including Draft Kings and Fan Duel, campaign records show.
Addaddo defended his I-Gaming bill and said the legalization of online card games — very like mobile sports betting — is “inevitable.” He said surrounding states of Latest Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut already allow I-Gaming.
The employees claimed that the bill would result in less people visiting physical casinos. Mary Altaffer
“It’s a matter of if — not when,” the senator told The Post Sunday, claiming legalizing gaming would generate $800 million to $1 billion a yr in revenue.
He also insisted online gaming will increase — not reduce — jobs at brick and-mortar casinos and pointed to studies that back up that stance. He said his laws would put aside $25 million yearly to guard casino jobs while online dealers can be represented by the union.
“My constituents work there. Why would I cannibalize jobs?” he said.
The pushback comes at a time when Genting, the Malaysian-based owner of Resorts World NY at Aqueduct, is predicted to submit a proper bid to win one in all three full casino licenses within the downstate region, enabling it to supply live table games in addition to VLTs, or electronic gaming devices.
When it opened greater than a decade ago, Resorts World NY at Aqueduct envisioned expanding its operations to incorporate table games. It has already opened a hotel to accommodate players.
