Casinos and Gaming Companies Score Big on Job Satisfaction Survey

_{DraftKings and other top gaming industry employers earn high marks in the latest USA Today workplace satisfaction survey. (Image: Bennett Raglin/AP Images for DraftKings)}

Want to find a great place to work? Who doesn’t? Well, whether this is surprising or not, several employers in the casino and gambling industry—including one in my beloved New Jersey—received high ratings in a recent survey co-sponsored by USA Today and Energage, an employee engagement and workplace culture consultancy.

The fifth annual study, released earlier this month, looked at companies with at least 150 employees. It is based entirely on responses to the survey sent out throughout 2024. In total, employees from 2,251 midsize to large companies responded, making it a comprehensive look at workplace satisfaction. 

The rankings are divided into four categories: 150–499 employees, 500–999, 1,000–2,499, and 2,500 or more. Six casino and gaming companies placed in the top 100 in their respective categories, including DraftKings, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, Sycuan Casino Resort, Station Casinos, and Penn Entertainment in the 2,500+ group. AGS, a gaming technology supplier, ranked in the 500–999 category.

DraftKings Paces the Industry

DraftKings, based in Boston, ranked an impressive 16th in the 2,500+ employee category. The online casino and sports betting giant employs 3,700 individuals. I would have guessed that number was much higher given how often I see their ads. Then again, I watch a lot of sports, and I’ll only tune in more now that the MLB season has started and Severance has ended for now.

Other than interacting with a few DraftKings traders at the Golden Nugget sportsbook in Atlantic City, I can’t claim much familiarity with the company itself. They actually affiliate with Resorts Casino here, so I’m not sure why they were at a different book. But anyway, their statements sound positive, and based on their survey performance, their employees seem to agree.

“At DraftKings, we believe in owning your success. This means owning your ideas, your role, your future—and a stake in the company. Expectations, pace, and goals can make working here challenging. 

"Yet, the autonomy and upside are worth it. Here, we know our work and ideas matter. When we give our best, we have a chance to own our success together.”

As for their goals: “Our work is fast-paced, exciting, and ever-changing. It comes from a winning culture where we overcome challenges and find ways to make the impossible possible. To rise to the challenge, we need people who can lead us into a new phase of company growth and maturity. You’ll need to bring flexibility and focus to navigate an ever-changing environment.”

Here in the Garden State, DraftKings ranks a very close second to FanDuel in internet gaming revenue so far in 2025. The company has earned $87,138,894 through the end of February, compared to FanDuel’s $93,825,825. DraftKings actually led FanDuel at this point in 2024, $81,507,037 to $79,314,543.

Casinos Check In

Hard Rock Atlantic City ranked No. 31. While the casino-resort clearly treats its employees well to earn this ranking, its public statement after making the list doesn’t address the workplace at all.

“Music may be our differentiator, but philanthropy is our soul,” the statement read. “Since 1971, Hard Rock has believed it’s our duty to help protect the planet and give back to our communities. We have a deep compassion for others and a dedication to making the world a better place to be.”

OK, but how does that connect with flexible schedules, insurance benefits, and paid time off? The statement continued, highlighting philanthropic efforts that the company believes set it apart from competitors.

“Since opening in the summer of 2018, Hard Rock Atlantic City has made over $1 million in monetary donations to over 450 charities. Hard Rock has also provided hundreds of in-kind donations to support our partners’ events, which include overnight hotel stays, concert tickets, and spa and dining experiences.”

Hard Rock Atlantic City also ranks highly in New Jersey gaming revenue so far in 2025. The casino has brought in $79,932,763 through February, second only to Borgata’s $110,256,558 among New Jersey’s nine casinos. The rankings were nearly identical at this time last year.

Best of the Rest

Here’s how the other gaming companies fared in the rankings:

• No. 56 – Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon, California: “Sycuan is committed to the personal growth and development of our team members, which we believe drives our organizational success and reputation as one of the best employers in San Diego.”
• No. 76 – Station Casinos in Las Vegas: “Station Casinos is home to world-class benefits for its team members, including free health benefits for most team members and their families, free on-site medical clinics, paid company retirement, and paid time off for service volunteer days.”
• No. 98 – Penn Entertainment
• No. 99 (500–999 employee category) – AGS, American Gaming Systems