Tens of thousands of casino workers, and the ancillary businesses that depend on the gaming industry, were dealt a crushing economic blow when Gov. Phil Murphy announced the closing of the city’s nine gambling parlors Monday to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and minimize the risk of exposure.
To alleviate some of the impending financial hardship and uncertainty, each of the city’s nine casinos are offering variations of health benefit extensions and/or temporary wages for their workers. As of March 1, there were 26,450 casino workers in Atlantic City, according to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.
While there is no industry-wide standard for the stopgap measures, all of the properties are continuing to cover health insurance benefits for their employees, with some offering coverage until the end of June, including Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Golden Nugget Atlantic City.