Page 4 - September 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Southern California Casino Expansion SBoosts Employment and Economy
outhern California casinos are in the process of hiring about 3,000 people before the end of the year. Pechanga Resort & Casino is looking for around 1,700 new employees by November, when it plans to complete its expanded casino
and hotel. Construction on a new two-story bar and restaurant and a 100,000 sq. ft. wing are being completed at Pechanga. By the end of the year, it will become Riverside County’s second largest private employer with about 5,000 employees.
Casino Morongo in Cabazon also plans to hire at least 1,000 people by the end of December when it opens its new casino and 23-story hotel.
Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio will open a new, 12-story hotel and expanded casino in December, and San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino’s expansion with plans for completion in early January will both add additional sta .
Both Pechanga and Morongo advertised job fairs in August, And Casino Morongo will hold another job fair from September 13–14.
Job growth created by California Indian casinos and their tribal governments grew by nearly 17% for the year ending April 2004, according to the California Indian Nations Gaming Association (cniga).
Statistics supplied by the California Employment Development Department also revealed tribes employed 44,300 workers in April 2004, up .2% from the previous month and 16.6% over April 2003.
“ e employment growth and the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and economic development being generated from tribal governments’ gaming activities is coming at a time when the state needs it most,” said cniga Chairman Anthony Miranda.
Lucky College Student AWins $247,392 Jackpot
trip to Valley View Casino on August 10th for Deborah Lee Palmer and her best friend paid o when the college student sat down at a Wheel of
Fortune® 25-cent slot machine and slid in $40. She was shocked when she won the machine’s largest payout — the MegaJackpotsTM Award of $247,392! e Vista woman is a graphic design student at an area college. She said she likes to play at Valley View Casino, and she plans on sharing her winnings with her best friend!
e Wheel of Fortune quarter slot machines are part of the Native American Progressive Systems (naps) network that links slot machines at California Native American casinos to a single progressive jackpot. is was one of ten jackpots on the 25-cent Wheel of Fortune slots that were awarded within one month! Read the article on page 6 about all ten jackpots and see Deborah on page 26.
...Gaming News Continued on Page 6
Page 4 September 2004
Southern California Gaming News