Casinos are improving the standard of living in Tunica County, Miss., an area with a history of high unemployment and welfare dependence.  The casinos in Tunica County are providing jobs and wage responsibility training, offering residents new employment opportunities in the casino industry.   

“Many of the handful receiving welfare checks here are newcomers…who travel to Tunica from less prosperous places looking for a new start.  Even those people usually land on their feet within a few months.”

“‘We try to make them feel good about themselves, and they have to learn that they must be responsible,’ said Bob Clarkson, manager of work force development for Park Place Entertainment, which owns three Tunica casinos.  ‘We have a lot of success stories.’”

“Casino jobs often pay well above the minimum wage, and the competition has increased pay at many other local businesses.”