Hard Rock International, the Seminole Tribe’s corporate entity, is in line for a massive 2024.
The tribe has a monopoly on the Florida online sports betting industry since Hard Rock Bet FL is the only option for Sunshine State bettors. Additionally, the Seminole Tribe added craps and roulette to its six Florida casinos.
The tribe would likely control Florida online casinos if legalized in the next gaming compact. However, a lot happened in previous years to put Hard Rock in this position.
One of the most notable events is the company’s investment in its workforce.
Yogonet recently spoke with Jeff Hook, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Hard Rock International.
Hook credited the wage increases for Hard Rock employees as one of the reasons the company is in such a prime position as the new year begins.
Half of Hard Rock invests $100 million in US workforce
In 2022, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming announced wage increases for half of its US workforce. The increases applied to US team members and new hires at company-managed hotels, casinos and cafe locations nationwide.
The $100 million investment into Hard Rock team members is part of an ongoing effort to honor and appreciate its workforce. Front-line wages for non-tipped employees increased by over 60% in some cases. New starting wages ranged between $18 and $21 an hour.
Hook told Yogonet that the decision to invest in the workforce will be reflected in their ability to retain customers in the new year.
“Our 2023 team member engagement is at an all-time high and our turnover is down substantially,” said Hook. “We have happier employees making more money and servicing customers. And as we service customers better, those customers will tend to play with us and stay with us more frequently.”
Hook also noted that the work being done by Hard Rock is being recognized by high-profile entities like Forbes.
“We’ve always been an employer of choice, but the other thing this decision did is that we set a record for the number of awards that we won through Forbes on this front,” said Hook. “We won eight different “Best of” awards for Forbes: Employer of Choice, World’s Best Employers to America’s Best Large Employers, Best Employers for Women, Best Employers for Diversity, Best Employers for New Grad… I can keep keep going.”
Hard Rock feels it is at the forefront of the gaming and hospitality industries, offering the most competitive wages.
Hard Rock is hiring
With new gaming options popping up at the Seminole Tribe’s Florida casinos, Hard Rock is still looking to fill positions.
The company regularly holds hiring events for positions in slots, table games, poker, marketing, finance, food & beverage, security and more. However, they have recently been holding hiring events for craps and roulette positions. The tribe has the most need for those two games since they just started offering them at their properties on Dec. 7.
The wage increases impact 95 job classifications at Hard Rock, including cooks, housekeepers, security, public space, and call center. Furthermore, hundreds of jobs are open at the new higher starting wage rates. For instance, entry-level team members in Florida will receive between $6 and $9 per hour above the state’s current $12 per hour minimum wage.
