Report Shows Strong Effort Toward Meeting Diversity Goals In Pennsylvania Gaming Industry

HARRISBURG, PA: Pennsylvania’s seven operating slots casinos were employing nearly 6,000 persons at the close of 2008 and demonstrating substantial effort and commitment toward promoting diversity within that number.

That is among the many conclusions contained in the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s “2008 Gaming Diversity Report”, released today and available on the Board’s web site.

The report outlines efforts to promote and create jobs and diversity in the Commonwealth’s gaming industry along with the actions taken by licensed slots gaming facilities to enhance the representation of diverse groups in both ownership and employment. These efforts also extend to diversity within associated enterprises such as the vendors that provide goods and services to the casinos.

In addition, the report provides information on the Gaming Control Board’s own efforts to monitor the activities of its licensees to ensure the creation of quality, full-time living wage jobs for Commonwealth residents.

The report is available for download by choosing a special link within the Information box on the Gaming Control Board web site’s home page at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.

Mozelle Daniels, the Board’s Director of Diversity, said the PGCB is committed to continuing the momentum of legalized gaming’s first three years in promoting diversity.

“The Gaming Control Board is dedicated to not only ensuring compliance with the casinos’ diversity efforts, but enhancing these initiatives and programs during 2009,” Daniels said. “While this report displays an outstanding effort on the part of all casinos in reaching diversity goals, we will continue to closely monitor future efforts and openly report the results.”

Other noteworthy and measurable facts within the report include:
•   Minorities represent 18.3% of all casino employees
•   Female employees were 48.6% of all employees
•   94.2% of jobs were held by Pennsylvania residents

Also included in the report are casino employee profiles, expenditures with minority businesses, charitable contributions and community outreach, and demographics of the host and surrounding counties of the facilities.

Under the Gaming Act, the Board is charged with promoting and ensuring diversity in all aspects of gaming activities, and providing a report yearly on its efforts and those of the casino industry.

In kind, the Board developed diversity rules and regulations that establish the policies and procedures for promoting and ensuring that the regulated entities foster participation and diversity in all aspects of their operations in the Commonwealth. This regulatory oversight by the Board includes diversity participation, establishment of a diversity plan, the reporting of participation and labor hiring preferences.

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