Layoffs Confirmed at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 08/21/2024

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We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Layoffs Confirmed at Rio Hotel & Casino

It has been announced that the owner of the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be cutting the number of employees at the property.

Confirmation of the layoffs came from the owner, Dreamscape Cos. recently, and it will come as devastating news to the employees who are affected. With the resort undergoing remodeling and improvement, officials said that they now had a better idea of staffing needs at the iconic off-strip property.

As yet, the company has not disclosed how many people will be losing their jobs, and at the time of making the announcement, a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice had not been filed with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation. Dreamscape did issue a statement thanking staff members.

In the statement, the company said that as the resort goes through remodeling and changes

…we now have a better understanding of the staffing levels Rio Las Vegas needs to provide guest service and operational efficiency. We deeply appreciate the unwavering commitment and diligence of all our team members and extend our heartfelt gratitude to those directly affected by the adjustments.

Dreamscape acquired the operating rights to the Rio in 2023 from Caesars Entertainment. Officials said that they had been monitoring staff levels and needs, and the layoffs were a direct response to this.

Digital Gaming Sectors More Affected by Job Losses

It was noted that, at present, land-based casinos are not being hit too hard by job losses. According to reports, it is largely digital gaming units that are being affected by headcount reductions. This comes from economic data that suggests that the economy in the United States is cooling.

However, the news from Dreamscape has raised concerns, as the gaming industry is the largest private-sector employer in the state. It also comes at a time when the jobless rate in Nevada sits at 5.2 percent, which is the same as California and marks the worst unemployment rate in the USA.

The good news is that, despite this announcement from Dreamscape, there have been no other major casino operators in Las Vegas that have made announcements about large numbers of job losses this year.

In fact, it was pointed out that many casinos have been struggling to get enough staff on board over recent years, particularly following the global pandemic. Some casino operators increased wage levels and added fresh perks to employment packages in a bid to attract more people after pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Resort Closured Affected Employment Levels

A couple of major resorts in Las Vegas closed their doors earlier this year, and this did have an impact on employment levels and job losses within the gaming industry.

The Mirage was the only operator this year to file a WARN notice after it temporarily closed its doors to make way for new construction. In addition, the iconic Tropicana closed its doors for the final time. However, its operator, Bally’s, provided generous compensation packages to workers as well as trying to find new positions for those affected.