Schenectady

At least 60 people have been fired or resigned from their positions at the 2-month-old Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady — a trend a Rivers spokesperson attributed to the quick learning curve in the industry.

The 64 employees that the Albany Business Review reports have left their positions are not from a specific area of the casino, said Charles Wiff of Gramercy Communications, which represents the casino and resort. Wiff could not confirm specific numbers Wednesday night, but said the turnover is normal for the hospitality industry.

"It's not as if there's a big layoff going on," he said. "There's naturally going to be some turnover ... especially in this industry." He called the rate of attrition "fairly low compared to the industry standard."

There are currently about 900 people employed at the $330 million facility, which opened in February, with plans to hire another 100 in the near future, Wiff said. The company is aiming for a 1,100-person staff when its conjoined hotel opens this summer.

In general, hiring for casino and gaming positions is more difficult than other jobs due to the more rigorous scrutiny of applicants by law enforcement and the state Gaming Commission. The State Police have five investigators who conduct criminal background checks for vendors and other employees at the casino.