In the build-up to its grand opening in October, Saracen Casino Resort is planning a substantial hire blitz. The casino is planning to create approximately 800 new jobs in the coming months.
Of the new jobs, approximately 400 will be based in the food and beverage department. The casino features six restaurants with three bars and lounges. The remaining positions will be allocated across the information technology and marketing departments.
According to a Quapaw Nation news release, the casino is also looking to fill positions as blackjack dealers, slot machine attendants, security, accountants, cashiers, and more.
“The heart and soul of the resort property will be its team members, about 1,200 in all,” Quapaw Nation chairman John L. Berrey said in a statement. “Of the entire development process – years of planning, building, the hard work, numerous challenges and all the excitement – these 1,200 jobs and the lives they impact are what mean the most to me. It really tugs at my heart.”
The Quapaw Nation is the developer and owner of the Jefferson County resort. Berrey recently lost his reelection bid as the chairman of the Quapaw Business Committee, which he has headed for approximately 19 years. He was defeated by Joseph Byrd.
The casino is a $350 million development that is expected to employ 1,200 individuals. To date, the development has hired 300 individuals to staff the Saracen Casino Annex. Another 50 supervisors and managers have also been hired and trained in preparation for the casino opening.
Before the main casino opened, the Quapaw Naiton opened the Saracen Casino Annex on the east side of Pine Bluff. The Annex contains 300 slot machines and is adjacent to the Q Store, a convenience store and gas station.
Once open, the casino, which encompasses 80,000 square feet, will feature 2,300 slot machines and 50 table games. There is also a 300-room hotel planned, along with a conference center, entertainment venue, spa, restaurants, and a museum and cultural center. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2021, which will reportedly require an additional 70-90 employees.
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Image courtesy of Saracen Casino Resort