September 8
Today, International Game Technology (IGT) supplied an update on the impact of Hurricane Katrina to its Gulf Coast area employees and operations. Look for online gambling companies offering hurricane relief efforts, too.
A company spokesperson stated that IGT
has now accounted for all 100 of its Gulf Coast area casino gambling employees and that its thankful that none of them was injured. The company's focus is now on providing immediate assistance to its casino employees and their families who are dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane devatation.
Many of the casino employees have lost their homes and personal effects. To further respond to this disaster, IGT has committed $1 million to assist relief efforts for its employees, customers and the communities that have suffered from the unprecedented disaster.
The casino gambling operator has also established the IGT Employee Relief Program to help its affected employees.
One very interesting detail that was divulged today is that
IGT will provide unlimited matching dollars to employees who contribute to the Relief Program or the American Red Cross.
IGT's gaming operations supervising sites in Gulfport., Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana were rendered non-operational by Hurricane Katrina and remain down. IGT is now working with the gaming regulators in both states to get emergency approval for alternative monitoring sites that could be operational as early as the end of this month. When the new doors do open, it will be interesting to see who comes to gamble and what promos they are offered.
IGT is still committed to working with its casino employees, customers and local officials in order to rebuild the casinos back to their former glory.