Proponents say casinos would create 15,000 jobs

Monday, July 3, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

Although their measure is not yet on the ballot and the election is months away, casino gambling proponents are looking for workers to fill some 15,000 jobs they say could be created by their casino business.

Few job hunters turned out Saturday in Little Rock, Ark. for the Arkansas Casino Corp.'s sixth and final job fair held across the state.

But company president Bobby May and vice president Bob Means said they already have processed up to 2,000 job applications from their visits to Fort Smith, Harrison, Hot Springs, Texarkana, and West Memphis. They said they don't need to immediately fill the jobs.

Workers needed would include clerks, casino workers, accountants, bookkeepers, bus driver, janitors, bellmen, secretaries, lifeguards, waiters, safety inspectors, computer programmers, and chefs.

The corporation's proposed constitutional amendment would establish casinos under the company's control in Boone, Crittenden, Garland, Miller, Pulaski and Sebastian counties.

The amendment also would create the Arkansas Gaming Commission, which would set up and operate a state lottery and regulate charitable bingo.

To get on the ballot, the company needs more than 70,000 signatures from registered voters. The Meanses say they have collected about 120,000 signatures.