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Gulf Coast Workers Head to Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY – As reported by the New York Times: "Peter Cunha and Megan Gutierrez were about to start new jobs at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Miss., the newest casino on the Gulf Coast, when Hurricane Katrina hit. With the Hard Rock and much of the rest of the casino industry in Mississippi and Louisiana reduced to a shambles, the two headed here to find work.

"On Monday, two weeks after they left their damaged apartments in Gulfport, Miss., they found themselves standing on the boardwalk here, in the shadows of what Mr. Cunha called 'monster-size' casinos. They are among the first of possibly thousands of Gulf Coast casino workers who may soon arrive here looking for jobs in this city's booming gambling businesses, industry officials say.

"Atlantic City's 12 casinos generated $4.8 billion in gambling revenues last year, compared with the $2.1 billion produced by Louisiana's 18 riverboats and racetrack casinos and the $2.7 billion from Mississippi's 29 dockside casinos, according to the American Gaming Association.

"Audrey S. Oswell, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, the industry's trade group, said the city's casinos stood ready to help.

"…The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has agreed to expedite temporary licenses for displaced workers. Dealers, pit bosses and others who are directly involved in gambling will be able to get licenses in 10 days, while others who work on the floors can qualify within 48 hours, according to Daniel Heneghan, a commission spokesman…"

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