The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and the state’s’ 19 commercial casinos are working together to ease certain gaming licensing requirements for service employees. A formal request for waivers is expected soon, said Racing and Gaming Administrator Brian Ohorilko.
He explained the gaming license waiver stems from the current tight labor market and intense competition for service industry employees. Ohorilko added the waiver would include employees not directly involved in gambling operations, including all positions not involved in any activity on the gaming floor, handling any gaming revenue or security of surveillance.
“Golf course attendants, restaurant employees, valet employees, hotel employees and maybe housekeepers” would be affected, Ohorilko said.
“The industry cited a couple of factors, one being the difficulty in finding employees right now, and looking for some relief,” Ohorilko noted. He said currently all casino employees must get a license to work in a casino. “There are different classes depending on the level of occupation. In other words, a casino general manager would be required to have the highest level of license, where someone who does not work on the gaming floor, like these non-gaming employees, would receive the lowest level of license,” Ohorilko stated.
He said each licensing level delves deeper into an individual’s personal and financial background to ensure there are no issues. The most comprehensive background checks are reserved for the highest-level licenses.
