Lina Yu, Table Games Dealer III
"There is so much to celebrate in our union contract. The minimum toke rate increases every year, which means my coworkers and I will be able to take home more money to our families."
New York
Gaming workers
We are the union for gaming workers in New York. Our union has successfully raised the standards in New York’s growing gaming industry, transforming what once were minimum wage, zero-benefit jobs into the best gaming jobs in the country.
Decades in the making
In the early 2000s, our union predicted that gaming would be coming to New York on a large scale and create thousands of jobs. We were determined to make them excellent, union jobs – not only to better the lives of thousands of New Yorkers who would work them, but to protect the high standards that we spent decades fighting for in the City's hotel industry.
Today, our union represents over 6,000 workers at gaming locations across New York. Through political power, organizing, and difficult bargaining, our union has dramatically increased wages, slashed the cost of healthcare, and provides gaming workers with job security, the right to a steady schedule, and a secure retirement.
Before HTC, gaming jobs were low wage, no-benefit jobs
The first casino that opened in New York City was Resorts World NYC. Before our union won a contract here, the workers were putting in 40 hours a week, but lived in poverty. Wages averaged just $10 an hour, and the casino offered no real benefits. Several workers were living in homeless shelters. One worker couldn't afford his metro card and had to walk two hours to work. Another lived a 15 minute drive from the casino, but could not afford a car. She spent hours a day commuting to work on four buses.
Word about our union's wages and benefits spread quickly and union organizers gathered cards from an overwhelmingly majority of the workers in just a few weeks. Then came the hard part – getting the casino to agree to a fair contract.
Resorts World NYC workers on the day they learned about their first union contract in 2013.
After rounds of negotiations with Resorts World NYC, the casino was still offering raises that weren't nearly enough. Fortunately, our union had another tool at the bargaining table: interest arbitration. This allowed our union to reach a contract by making compelling arguments to an arbitrator rather than going on strike. In October 2013, the arbitrator issued his decision. He agreed with our union's compelling arguments and awarded a life-changing contract. The workers wages doubled overnight, and tripled by the end of the initial five-year agreement.
Growing in gaming
In the years since we first organized Resorts World NYC, multiple full-scale casinos opened in Upstate New York. As each project got off the ground, our union organized the workers and made sure that those new gaming jobs became union jobs.
Today, our union represents over 6,000 workers at gaming locations across New York, including Resorts World NYC, Resorts World Catskills, Resorts World Hudson Valley, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, del Lago Resort and Casino, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Empire City Casino by MGM, NYRA, and more. Our union also represents the workers at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.
Three new casinos are coming to New York City
In December 2025, the New York State Gaming Commission awarded casino licenses to three operators: Resorts World NYC in Queens, Metropolitan Park (Hard Rock) near Citi Field, and Bally’s in the Bronx at Ferry Point. These projects are expected to create as many as 14,000 permanent jobs.
Our labor peace agreements mean the workers will be able to join our union without facing intimidation, retaliation, or an anti-union campaign from management.
Train to become a Table Games Dealer
There is a free multi-week course for members who are interested in working as Table Games Dealers at the new casinos. The Dealer Training Program will teach the art of dealing various table games, including Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. The current program is 20 hours per week over 9 weeks. The Benefit Funds’ Industry Training Program (“ITP”) administers the classes. ITP eligibility rules will apply.
Fill out the interest form
Resorts World NYC: Ten Years Later
Our union's first gaming contract at Resorts World New York City was, and remains, one of our most remarkable victories. Ten years later, the workers there reflect on how it changed their lives.
"I was in college for architecture when I started at Resorts World. I was helping out at home, and the money wasn't enough. Then we got the union. Having the contract helped me focus in school, afford my rent. I graduated that same year and the next year I was able to buy a house in Long Island. Then, a few years ago I had my daughter."
– MARLENE FERREIRA, Server at Resorts World NYC
Jason Donnelly, Table Games Dealer
"Because my co-workers and I are represented by the Hotel Trades Council, we receive family-sustaining wages and quality healthcare from del Lago Resort & Casino."
Shlacka Lescott, Fountain Attendant
"The pension is WOW! It’s the big thing for me. I know I’m young and it’s a long way from now. But when I’m seventy years old, I’m going to kick back and have a really great time. A pension is important to me, and our union provides that."