A group of 221 table games dealers and dual rates at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol have voted to join Teamsters Local 519. They’re seeking a fair first contract that includes higher wages, improved benefits, and a strong voice on the job.

“Dealers and dual rates are the backbone of the gaming floor, and when they stand together, they have the power to win real improvements on the job. It was the best decision to choose the Teamsters, and we’re proud to support them as they move forward in securing a fair first contract,” said Tommy Blitsch, Director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show, and Casino Division.

The dealers are responsible for operating table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker. They manage the games, handle chips and payouts, and ensure games are conducted fairly and efficiently.

“It was a team effort from start to finish, and we had the best team to fight for representation, including our organizer, Marty Hinch. At the drop of a hat we were ready to support this group in their effort to join the Teamsters. Their determination carried over, and they’re going to reap the benefits,” said Wes Trotterchaud, President of Local 519.

“Choosing to join the Teamsters was about securing respect, stability, and a voice on the casino floor. We’re ready to negotiate a contract that reflects the hard work we do every day,” said Anthony Keen, a table games dealer/dual rate and proud new member of Local 519.

Nationwide, the Teamsters represent nearly 6000 members at casinos and casino hotels.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC), the longest-running gaming conference in the US, will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on April 15-16.

More than three dozen leaders in the public and private sectors will address the 28th annual conference, examining and charting a full range of issues that the gaming industry must address.

“Our lineup of speakers, ranging from the Governor of New Jersey to 10 industry-leading CEOs and beyond, makes this the strongest lineup of speakers in our entire history,” Lloyd D. Levenson, co-founder of the conference, said.

“The topics to be addressed will include the future of Downstate gaming in New York, the convergence of lotteries, changes in technology as well as the challenges posed by unregulated gaming, along with other critical issues,” Michael Pollock, co-founder of the conference, said.

Full List of Confirmed Speakers (Alphabetical Order)

• Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Chairman, New York State Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering

• James F. (Jim) Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming

• Dr. Jane Bokunewicz, Faculty Director, Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT)

• David Brace, David Brace, Principal, Innovation & Technology, Continent8

• Patrick Brown, Founding Partner, Brown & Weinraub

• David S. Cordish, Chairman of The Cordish Companies

• James Carey, Executive Director, New Jersey Lottery.

• Jacques Cornet, Partner, ICR

• Jay Dorris, President and CEO of Wind Creek Hospitality

• Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming

• Mary Jo Flaherty, Interim Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

• Shawn Fluharty, President of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, Head of Government Affairs, Play’n GO

• Chris Grove, Co-Founding Partner, Acies Investments and EKG Ventures

• Rob Heller, CEO, Spectrum Gaming Capital

• Yael Harel Hertz, CEO, TheLotter Group

• Jeffrey Gural, Chairman, GFP Real Estate, owner of Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs

• William (Bill) J. Hornbuckle, Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International

• Lynne Levin Kaufman, Co-Chair, Gaming Law Practice Group, Cooper Levenson

• Helene Keeley, Executive Director, Delaware Lottery

• John Kempf, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings

• Soo Kim, Chairman of Bally’s Corporation

• Lloyd D. Levenson, CEO, Cooper Levenson

• Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association

• Philip D. Murphy, Governor, New Jersey

• Ray Pineault, President and CEO of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment

• James Plousis, Chairman, New Jersey Casino Control Commission

• Michael Pollock, Senior Policy Advisor, Spectrum Gaming Group

• Khalid Reede Jones, Executive Director, Virginia Lottery

• Thomas R. Reeg, Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment

• Omer Sattar, Co-Founder & CEO, Sightline Payments

• May Scheve Reardon, Vice President of Government Relations, Pollard Banknote

• Adam Rosenberg, Senior Advisor, Blackstone

• Anna Sainsbury, CEO and Co-Founder of GeoComply

• James D. Schultz, Executive Vice President, Global Legal and Public Policy, Scientific Games

• Michael Shillan, Chief Executive Officer, WOW Lottery Ventures LLC

• Marty Small, Sr., Mayor, Atlantic City

• Frank Suarez, Executive Director, Connecticut Lottery

• Michael Wagman, President & Managing Director, Clairvest Group

• Joe Weinert, Executive Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group

• Andrew Winchell, Head of Government Affairs, Betr

The conference will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to keynote speaker Jim Allen.

Data from study reveals 83.9% of Millennials and 80.5% of Gen Z weigh factors such as restaurants/bars, live entertainment and hotel amenities when choosing a casino to visit

LaneTerralever, a full-service marketing and customer experience agency with a division focused on casino, hospitality and entertainment destination brands, today released its new study, 2024 Casino Player Trends Report: How Non-Gaming Activities Are Transforming Casinos. The study, conducted in partnership with Anthony F Lucas, professor at UNLV’s College of Hospitality, measured the opinions of respondents aged 21 to 75 on various non-gaming offerings of both local and destination casinos and how they impact their loyalty to the properties they choose.

Non-Gaming Most Vital to Millennials/Gen Z and Still Important to Boomers/Gen X

Notably, 83.9% of Millennials and 80.5% of Gen Z indicated non-gaming activities such as restaurants and bars, live entertainment, hotel amenities, etc significantly impacted their decision-making process when choosing a local casino. While still significant, those numbers were smaller for older demographics including 65.3% of Boomers and 76.1% of Gen X reporting non-gaming offerings had a significant impact.

All Generations Budgeting Time and Money for Non-Gaming

Across all generations, it was found that ~20% of their time is spent doing something other than playing with non-gaming activities, something they specifically budgeted for – Millennials lead that group at 68%. Restaurants/bars were the top non-gaming activity mentioned for local casinos at 40.9%, followed by live entertainment at 23.2% and hotel amenities at 16%.

Visiting with Groups has Become Increasingly Important

The ‘group visit’ to casinos is seen as increasingly important, especially among younger market segments, with 80% of people visiting local casinos in groups and 87% of destination casino visitors doing the same. Notably, 70% of casino-goers say non-gaming offerings are more important when they visit with family and friends.

“Our study underscores the prevalence of the experience economy and how important it is for casino operators to continue to hone and expand their experiential and entertainment-focused offerings, particularly to attract the attention of younger generations and maintain long-term loyalty of all players,” the Marketing Vice-President for LaneTerralever, Nick Dan-Bergman, said.

Additional Noteworthy Findings:

Affluent Players are a Unique Segment, Value Non-Gaming Activities

Affluent visitors will likely spend 50% of their time on non-gaming activities during a single trip to a destination casino, meaning they prioritize non-gaming offerings more than the average player. They consider live entertainment most important with 27.2% of affluent players ranking it as their top non-gaming offering compared to 20% of non-affluent.

Hard Rock Leading Competition Among Non-Gaming Offerings

When asked which destination casino brand has the best non-gaming offerings, 21.1% chose Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. MGM Resorts International, at 20.1%, was a close second, followed by Caesars Entertainment at 13.8%.

Non-gaming and Customer Experience Offer Opportunity to Build Deeper Relationship with Players

When it comes to fostering loyalty among players, non-gaming offerings once again ranked prominently among younger demographics with 69.3% of Millennials and 65.7% of Gen Z saying non-gaming features have at least some impact on their loyalty to local casinos. In comparison, just 56.9% of Boomers and 61.3% of Gen X scored this as important. In addition, customer experience was identified as a top way to build loyalty with 89% of casino-goers saying good customer experience can lead them to choose a smaller casino over a larger brand.

Opportunities to Entice Online Bettors to Visit In-Person

Gauging the prevalence of online versus in-person wagering within the context of age groups, 73% of Gen Z and Millennials indicated they’ve placed a bet online. When the topic turned to in-person wagers, the responses effectively flipped, with 79% of Boomers stating they’ve placed a bet at a brick-and-mortar establishment; a significantly higher proportion than Gen Z and Millennials

Webinar Presenting Key Research Findings

The authors of the research are hosting a webinar in partnership with Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Magazine on Tuesday, February 13 at 10am PST. They’ll present the highlights of their findings and host a panel discussion; register to attend here.

To download the full 2024 Casino Player Trends Report, visit LaneTerralever .com.