The powerful Culinary Workers Union 226 chapter has publicly criticized Swedish online live casino provider Evolution, as the operator recently acquired Nevada-based Galaxy Gaming.
The Culinary Union Local 226 chapter represents tens of thousands of casino and hospitality workers in Sin City. It has union contracts with a large majority of casinos in the Las Vegas area.
Evolution is one of the world’s leading livestreamed casino gaming operators, with offices and streaming studios all over the world. That includes Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the U.S., and various European countries, such as Georgia and Latvia.
It is Evolution’s Georgian studio that has attracted international attention in recent weeks, including from officials at the Culinary Union. Evolution recently laid off 1,000 staffers at the studio, in response to an ongoing 4,000-person strike over poor working conditions.
The Union has asked that the deal for Galaxy Gaming be scrutinized further by Nevada gambling regulators because of what it claims are unsafe and unfair labor practices from Evolution.
The Galaxy Deal
Evolution, one of the fastest-growing gambling companies in the world in recent decades, is in the process of acquiring Nevada-based casino supplier Galaxy Gaming for $85 million.
Galaxy provides games and technology to online and physical casino operators, including 28 U.S. states. It is Evolution’s first foray into physical casino equipment and sales.
Since 2020, Evolution has also acquired several high-profile online slot makers from Europe, including NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, and NoLimit City.
Evolution and Galaxy both maintain that Galaxy will continue to operate as a wholly independent subsidiary after the acquisition. All management and other employees will be retained.
Criticism and Responses
As well as releasing a public statement, the Culinary Union also used its right to offer comment at the August monthly meeting of the Nevada Gaming Commission.
It asked the regulator to reject any application if it could not confirm that Galaxy would continue operating by American labor standards. Problems reported by workers at the Georgia studios include bug infestations, low wages (by local standards), and general poor conditions that lead to sickness.
“The Culinary Union offers solidarity to the Evolution workers in Georgia and asks the Nevada Gaming Commission to take into consideration the labor practices of this company, in Georgia and anywhere else, as the Board reviews the potential application for a Nevada gaming license related to the acquisition of Galaxy Gaming,” the statement said.
“Culinary Union urges the Nevada Gaming Commission to reject Evolution’s application if it continues to refuse to treat its employees with respect and provide for decent wages and safe working conditions.”
Evolution and Galaxy Gaming have not made a statement on the issue. The Nevada Gaming Commission told Union reps it has not yet had a license application from Evolution, but would consider the matter.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
