West Virginia Tracks Hold True To Their Word on Casino Hirings
Politicians and gambling supporters always use additional jobs as a reason to vote for casino gambling. In West Virginia, this was no different. Racetrack owners promised new jobs if the table games were approved.
The owners have held to their pledge to the public. This year, voters approved table games in two West Virginia Counties, and the racetracks in those counties have responded by hiring additional employees.
The Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester has hired 725 employees to help with the additional table games. The Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Ohio County has added 500 employees. That brings the total to 1,225 new jobs.
In Jefferson County, voters did not approve the table games. After seeing the jobs that were created in the other two counties, they might reconsider the next time it comes up on the ballot. Charles Town Race and Slots, the casino in Jefferson County, can request the issue be put on the ballot again in two years.
Kanawha voters also approved poker tables, but they will not be allowed to start playing on those tables until next fall. The racetracks had originally asked for the table games to be on the ballot to help in the growing competition that was coming from Pennsylvania slot casinos.
