KANSAS CITY — As big-business casino lobbyists move around the country, their sales-pitch for casino expansion usually follows a similar template - “The development of a new casino resort will bring more jobs to your area, help stimulate the local economy, and increase tourism figures”.

This is what local town councils are hearing all over the United States. It’s the major pitch by anyone who is trying to win a casino bid or convince a city to build a local casino.

After 18 months of analysis, its becoming more and more evident these new ‘casino jobs’ are not being filled by American workers. With a looming recession on the horizon in America, many illegal immigrants who came to the US to work the fields or take-part in manual construction labor, are finding themselves unemployed. Who is hiring them now? Big-time casinos, and that’s hurting many Americans who once worked in this business.

Many of the new pitbosses and card-dealers in the large casinos are Mexican, and they barely speak a lick of English. Why are the casinos hiring these people over Americans? The reason is simple - money. Casinos can save almost 30% by hiring a Mexican worker to tend slot machines, or run money across the casino. Mexicans are also taking many of the hotel-related jobs in the casinos, as well as miscellaneous food service work. Many of the illegals are working for under-the-table cash.

The next time casino executives are in your area pitching more jobs, ask them who they plan on hiring, illegal aliens or Americans citizens. The local US gamblers will be paying their salaries.