The legal gambling industry is booming, especially after Pennsylvania online casinos broke another US record with $181.5 million of revenue in March. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), the employees in this surging industry represent a mostly diverse workforce.
PlayPennsylvania compares the AGA’s findings with the most recent Pennsylvania casino diversity report.
The AGA also updated its sports marketing code, which the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) had already adopted.
American Gaming Association releases 2023 diversity report
The AGA sent out a diversity report earlier this month that showed promising results.
Here are some of the findings:
- More than 6 in 10 (61%) of gaming industry employees are minorities, compared to 52% of the broader hospitality industry and 42% of the total US workforce.
- 23% of gaming employees are Hispanic and 19% are Black – both higher than the national workforce and in line with the hospitality industry.
- 60% of operator employees are minorities, up nearly 20% from 2011 and higher than the hospitality sector and national workforces overall.
- 45% of gaming manufacturer employees are minorities, compared to 38% of the broader electronic manufacturing workforce.
- 45% of first/mid-level managers are minorities, while 43% of professionals are minorities, both 10 to 12 points above national and hospitality benchmarks.
In a deeper dive, while the gaming industry is considered significantly more diverse, the industry can improve on women representation in leadership roles:
- 48% of gaming’s workforce is female, in line with the national workforce, but representation drops off at more senior level job classifications.
Diversity at Pennsylvania casinos
Pennsylvania casinos have a lot of work to do when it comes to diversity.
Not one casino in Pennsylvania meets the AGA’s figure of 61% of minority gaming employees. Pennsylvania casinos are required to submit a diversity report to the PGCB at the end of every fiscal year.
As of June 30, 2022, Rivers Casino Philadelphia employs the highest number of minorities at 46%. Here are the next two casinos that employ the most minorities within the state:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia: 42%
- Valley Forge Casino: 42%
Mohegan Pennsylvania employs the least amount of minorities at 8%. The next two lowest casinos are:
- Hollywood Casino at The Meadows: 11%
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh: 14%
As a state, 26% of Pennsylvania casino employees are minorities. Also, women make up 36% of the workforce at the state’s casinos.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin employs the most women at 49%. Hollywood Casino York employs 39% women, as Mohegan Pennsylvania, Wind Creek Bethlehem and Mount Airy Casino are all at 37%.
When the FY 2022/2023 ends at the conclusion of June, it will be interesting to see if Pennsylvania casinos have improved on those numbers.
PGCB adopted ‘free bet’ ban before AGA
In another update, the AGA announced adjustments to its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. They include:
- Enhanced protections for college-aged audiences by:
- Prohibiting college partnerships that promote, market or advertise sports wagering activity (other than to alumni networks or content focused on responsible gaming initiatives or problem gambling awareness).
- Prohibiting sportsbook NIL deals for amateur and college athletes.
- Adding age restrictions (21+) for any individual featured in advertising.
- Changing all references to the “legal age of wagering” in the Code to 21+.
- Banning all use of “risk free” in advertising.
The PGCB had already adopted the ban of using “risk free” in all marketing material for PA sportsbooks and online casinos.
PGCB Deputy Director of Communications, Richard McGarvey, previously told PlayPennyslvania the consistency of language is a big deal. In March, he said:
“Some patrons could have misconstrued the language and we felt that was a concern for us. Additionally, some operators stopped using that terminology and we wanted it to be consistent across the board.”
Pennsylvania has not had any notable issues with college and underaged audiences. DraftKings Sportsbook and Barstool Sportsbook in Ohio have recently been fined for underage and college infractions.
