Bally's Corporation Makes $5 Million Donation to Rhode Island's Community College
Bally's Corporation, a dominant player in casino operations within Rhode Island, has given back to the community by making a substantial donation to the state's only public community college. On Thursday, Bally's revealed a $5 million gift for the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), marking the largest contribution in the school's almost 45-year existence and effectively doubling the size of its endowment.
The funds will, as per college officials, aid in creating more avenues for higher education and will serve as a source of economic opportunities for students looking to enter the casino and gaming industries. Bally's employees seeking to advance their skills also have a chance to benefit from tuition assistance through this donation.
Bally's Corporation Chairman Soo Kim expressed their firm's longstanding commitment towards their home state's local communities and workforce: "Rhode Island is our home, and investing in its communities and workforce will always be a top priority for us." Kim added that they hope to foster this relationship for potentially many years to come, ultimately creating a legacy that promotes economic opportunities.
With operations of both commercial casinos in Rhode Island - Bally's Twin River Lincoln and Bally's Tiverton - Bally's Corporation plays a significant role in the state's economy.
Gaming Education
The gaming industry faced difficulties in recruitment after the COVID-19 crisis hit the world. The rise of work-from-home alternatives, growing in popularity, posed stiff competition to the industry.
In an effort to attract students in Rhode Island who might consider a future in the casino industry, Bally's decided to make a significant donation to CCRI. CCRI is now the sole institution providing higher education in The Ocean State to offer students an associate's degree program focused on gaming.
Bally's aid will help build a specialized curriculum, which encompasses traditional learning, online classes, on-location learning labs, and employment opportunities at Bally's facilities. The program spans across casino operations, cybersecurity, iGaming operations, culinary arts, hotel management, and slot technology.
Although setting up the gaming courses might take some time, the goal is to initiate this program by fall 2024.
CCRI has around 17,000 students on its Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, Newport, and Westerly campuses.
Expanding Gaming Education
While UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hospitality has long held a reputation for producing future managers and executives in the gaming industry, regional expansion of the field has led many other schools to develop their own gaming-centered curricula.
Community colleges across the country have also crafted job-specific training programs, catering to career prospects in the casino industry.
For instance, the Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland offers a "Casino Dealer School", where enrollees acquire blackjack and other casino table game dealing skills. Additionally, full tuition scholarships are available to the students whose education is supported by The Cordish Companies, the organization behind Live! Casino Hotel Maryland, Arundel Mills.
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