Mellow and Musto Applaud Creation of
Nearly 600 New Jobs at Mohegan Sun
Gaming Control Board approves petition to add table
games
March 16, 2010, Harrisburg, PA -- At a public
hearing before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
today, officials from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
outlined their plans to hire and train 596 new full-time
workers to complete the expansion of the facility to
accommodate table games.
"It won't be long now before Luzerne County and all of
northeast Pennsylvania begin to feel the economic boost
from this expansion, and it can't come a moment too
soon," said Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow
(Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) who sponsored the
legislation which brought table games to Pennsylvania
casinos. "We are already seeing the excitement and
energy created by the additional jobs, tourism dollars,
and tax revenue coming our way."
"Taxpayers and the tourism industry are going to be the
real winners when table games are offered at Pocono
Downs," said Senator Raphael Musto
(Luzerne/Monroe/Carbon). "Pennsylvania will not only be
able to use the tax revenue generated to make up the
huge budget gaps created by the weak economy, but the
state will be able to lure tourists who travel to
casinos in New York and New Jersey to play table games."
Pocono Downs President Robert Soper and Vice President
of Administration Michael Bean told board members that
350 dealers will be needed to staff the more than 80
tables which should be up and running this summer.
Additional positions include managers, hosts, and
support personnel. Pennsylvania residents will make up
97 percent of the newly-hired workforce. The other 3
percent will be transferred from Mohegan Sun's
Connecticut facility. All positions offer
family-sustaining salaries and full benefits.
Expansion plans also include spending $17.9 million on
construction. According to today's presentation, this
construction would in turn create another 75-100 jobs.
It is estimated that tax revenue from table games will
exceed $6.5 million annually. Mohegan Sun will also pay
an additional $16.5 million licensing fee.
###
