Borgata’s shuttle service eases a shortage of employees
BY SCOTT GOLDSTEIN
NJ BIZ
Atlantic City, NJ, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 —It’s no secret that there is a casino-worker shortage in Atlantic City. The Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa has gone as far as setting up a free shuttle for Camden residents.
The casino-hotel, owned by Boyd Gaming and MGM Mirage, last month renewed its contract with the South Jersey Transportation Authority to run the daily shuttle bus that brings workers from the Delaware River city to the seashore city about 60 miles away. The hour-long trip is free to workers; the $256,000 annual cost is split between the hotel and the authority.
“It makes perfect sense,” says Mike Pollock, publisher of the Gaming Industry Observer, which tracks trends in the gaming industry. “Right now, there are few employment opportunities in Camden and employment opportunities are increasing in Atlantic City.
“The fact is that the Borgata is clearly planning for some significant growth and this is an industry that requires quality employees at all levels,” says Pollock. “The work in Atlantic City can often lead to careers as opposed to simply jobs. It’s very encouraging for New Jersey from a policy standpoint.”
A total of 1,443 Camden County residents work in Atlantic City, ranking the county third behind Atlantic (34,346) and Ocean (1,450) counties, according to the Casino Association of New Jersey.
The Borgata is one of three casino-hotels that are planning to open new hotel towers this year. Also scheduled are two new casino-hotels that are expected to open by 2011. Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. plans to build a $1.5 billion casino-hotel where the Sands Hotel Casino once stood, and Revel Entertainment Group is teaming with a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley to build a $2 billion casino-resort.
Overall, as many as 20,000 new workers may be needed in the next five years.
E-mail to sgoldstein@njbiz.com
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