The trade association that represents Nevada’s gaming equipment industry hailed the recent passage of legislation that expands the state’s technology and manufacturing workforce.
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers said Assembly Bill 221 gives workers aged 18-to-20 years old legal status as a “gaming employee” when working for slot machine, systems, table game and component suppliers.
Previously, Nevada law prohibited any person under 21 from being employed as a “gaming employee” except as a member of a casino count room staff. Gaming equipment suppliers could offer internships to anyone under 21.
AGEM Executive Director Marcus Prater said he expects Governor Steve Sisolak to sign the legislation into law soon.
“We are keenly interested in workforce development and employment opportunities within the state and Assembly Bill 221 will take us all in a positive direction,” Prater said. ““The gaming suppliers are further interested in hiring those in the 18-20 age group in a variety of company department categories, as well as being able to offer internships to college students. The opportunities could run the gamut from visionary young adult game designers to graduates from our state’s technical schools to math wizards who are all seeking a unique career path previously unavailable to them.”
Nevada is considered as the manufacturing epicenter for global gaming equipment, both hardware and software, exported to every regulated gaming market in the world. Leading gaming equipment providers, including International Game Technology (IGT), Scientific Games, Aristocrat Technologies, Konami Gaming, Everi, Ainsworth Game Technology, and AGS, all maintain headquarters or key manufacturing centers in Nevada.
Am economic impact analysis released by AGEM last month showed the gaming technology sector continues to grow in Nevada. Supplier companies either headquartered in Nevada or have some operations here account for $11.7 billion in direct revenue annually and directly employ nearly 29,000 people across all of their operations.
AB221 was originally introduced by Assembly Judiciary Chairman Steve Yeager and garnered the formal support of the Nevada System of Higher Education, the College of Southern Nevada, the Washoe County School District, Clark County School District and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
