Reno – Nevadans hold a dim view of the economy, with more than one in four fearing for their jobs, according to a statewide poll released Sunday. Thirty-nine percent of 600 Nevadans surveyed think it will take „years“ for the economy to rebound. Another 29 percent think a recovery will come in 2009, and 24 percent said 2010. The poll was conducted Oct. 25-28 for the Reno Gazette-Journal and Channel 2 News by Maryland-based Research 2000. The poll had an error margin of 4 percentage points.

Atlantic City’s most profitable gambling palace, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, confirmed today that it laid off about 400 of its staff this week. The 5.5 percent cut in its workforce of about 7,600 was unavoidable in the deteriorating economy, said Rob Stillwell, a spokesman for Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp., which co-owns the Borgata with MGM Mirage. The Borgata layoffs follow Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.’s announcement Friday that it was cutting hundreds of employees at its four Atlantic City casinos…

Atlantic City – Since the dawn of the gaming age here, casinos have cut back on the number of employees when summer gave way to fall and winter. With declines in gaming revenues in both 2007 and 2008 from a confluence of factors – competition from Pennsylvania and New York, a partial smoking ban, high gas prices over the summer, and a downward spiraling economy – you’d expect a sizable decline in the number of jobs as a result.

The Olympia Group released a study outlining the projected economic impact of the proposed Oxford Highlands Resort-Spa-Casino in Oxford County. It was conducted by Clyde W. Barrow, Director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts and main investigator for the New England Gaming Research Project. According to the report, in addition to creating 1,277 new jobs during the construction phase, the resort casino will generate 907 full-time and part-time jobs upon final build-out.

Dozens of jobs are under threat at a casino because of its change to an electronic gaming site. The Counting House Casino, in Cank Street, Leicester, is to concentrate solely on slot machines and electronic games. It means live games – such as poker and blackjack – will no longer be offered at the casino. Genting Stanley, which owns the casino, has now launched a consultation over the future of the jobs of 43 staff who work at the premises.

Boston (Reuters) – Foxwoods Resort Casino, North America’s biggest casino, announced plans on Tuesday to lay off 700 workers or about 6 percent of its work force, citing a drop in gambling and the weakening U.S. economy. The 340,000-square foot casino in Connecticut, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe, is the biggest player in the thriving Native American gaming industry…

Despite the escalating unemployment rate in Nevada and nationally, Wynn continues to accept applications for 5,300 newly created job opportunities, as it prepares to unveil Encore, the new signature resort in the Wynn collection. Wynn and Encore began accepting applications in July and have already received more than 65,000 job inquiries. Encore is scheduled to open in December 2008 with suite reservations now being accepted for dates starting in January 2009.

The soon-to-open Red Hawk Casino will host a job fair Sept. 21-22 at its temporary employment and training center in El Dorado Hills. The casino, operated by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, is scheduled to open in the final quarter of this year along Highway 50 outside Placerville. Those who apply for jobs online in advance will be interviewed by casino representatives for open positions.

Boston – A new study by Spectrum Gaming Group study provides an in-depth analysis of possible economic and social impacts of the proposed expansion of gambling in Massachusetts. “I believe that this analysis will prove valuable for future policy deliberations if and when the issue of expanded gaming in Massachusetts re-emerges,” Daniel O’Connell, the state’s secretary of housing and economic development, said in a statement accompanying the report’s release.

Las Vegas – Casino mogul Steve Wynn says hiring will begin Sunday for 5,300 positions at his new Encore resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Wynn tells The Associated Press he sees good and bad in the current economic slump, which he thinks is affecting other hotels and casinos more than his high-end Wynn Las Vegas resort. Company officials say hiring is going to be handled online.

Station Casinos will begin taking applications Sunday for more than 1,000 jobs at Aliante Station, the company’s 10th major property in town, which is scheduled to open in North Las Vegas Nov. 11. The first step in the hiring drill can be accomplished from home: Call a toll free number (800-720-2127) or go online (“Careers” at www.stationcasinos.com).

Commercial casino jobs increased 3.2 percent nationally in 2006, but employment at Colorado’s casinos dropped 2.5 percent, according to a study to be released today by the American Gaming Association. Colorado’s 46 casinos had 7,829 workers in 2006, down from 8,029 in 2005. Nationally, there were 366,197 casino jobs in 2006, up from 354,924 the previous year. Lois Rice, executive director of the Colorado Gaming Association, couldn’t pinpoint the reason for the drop in the state – where commercial casinos are legal in Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City.