NATIONAL GAMBLING IMPACT STUDY COMMISSION

CHAIRMAN JAMES: Victoria King.

MS. KING: Hello, Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the issue of gaming. My name is Victoria King and I've been in the business since July of '93 when I helped open the Turning Stone casino in Verona, New York.

What led me to the gaming industry was a series of dead end low paying service oriented jobs in hotel and food and beverage, generally with no benefits. With a degree in hotel management, I worked at the Marriott as an administrative assistant with benefits that were minimal. Once hired as a beverage server at the Turning Stone casino I made a substantial wage with great benefits, a 401(k) plan and most important flexibility in scheduling to allow me to return to school.

After relocating to Indiana, I was hired at Showboat where I work nights and am pursuing a degree in marketing. Many of the women I work with are now independent of public assistance, are making a decent wage and can support their children while providing excellent health insurance. In the short time that I have lived here, I've seen how the casinos in the area have literally changed people's lives for the better by providing steady reliable employment.

Besides all the benefits that go along with working for a casino, let me just say that I have formed lasting friendships and relationships with a variety of people because gaming, like no other industry, is like working with family.