Casino Career Institute at Atlantic Cape’s Worthington Atlantic City Campus Celebrates 45th Anniversary

ATLANTIC CITY— Atlantic Cape Community College’s Casino Career Institute (CCI) celebrated its 45th Anniversary at the Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City campus on October 26 at an event that brought together college staff, faculty and CCI students and instructors, past and present.

“After opening its doors in 1978, the CCI is a hallmark of Atlantic Cape’s Workforce Development program and demonstrates our mission of creating career opportunities for residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties in a leading industry in our communities,” Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba said. “I thank everyone who has been involved over the past 45 years for your dedication and for sharing the legacy of Atlantic Cape’s Casino Career Institute.”

Atlantic Cape founded the CCI in 1978 in response to the advent of gaming in the state of New Jersey. This resulted in CCI becoming the first gaming school in the nation affiliated with a fully accredited community college. Since that time, CCI has prepared thousands of students for positions in slot technology, surveillance, security, and table games and created successful customized training programs for incumbent workers in the industry.

Sherwood Taylor, Atlantic Cape’s Senior Director of Workforce Development, recognized the importance of leadership from the college for keeping the CCI moving forward, and community support from the casino industry, which over the years has donated tables, layouts, chairs, furniture, equipment and more.

“For a long time, we had a slot technician lab with over 100 slot machines and we never bought one of them, they were all donated to us,” said Taylor, who also recognized the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and Caesars Entertainment for providing the funding for the wing that houses the CCI at the Worthington campus.

A resolution adopted on October 24 by the Atlantic Cape Board of Trustees officially honoring and recognizing the CCI’s 45th Anniversary was read aloud and presented.

The students currently enrolled in the CCI manned their respective gaming tables and demonstrated the skills they have learned as the guests in attendance played mock table games, such as poker, baccarat, roulette and blackjack.

Taylor also stressed the critical importance of the dedicated CCI instructors whose teaching and expertise have allowed its students to be hired in the gaming industry not just in this country, but all across the world.

“It does not mean anything as an educator if you can’t train people to go to work for what you taught them. So, all of the casinos and all of the employers around the world who have hired our graduates, thank you, because it is a validation of the work that we do and you are impacting lives like you have no idea,” Taylor stated emphatically.

The CCI provides training and consulting services supporting the gaming industry. CCI was the first licensed gaming school in the nation to be affiliated with a community college. Students receive hands-on training in our fully equipped mock casino floor. CCI offers dealer training, surveillance, and games protection training.

CCI graduates are recognized and employed around the world at all levels of the industry. Our instructors are recognized experts in the field and provide leading-edge training supported by a high-quality and effective curriculum. CCI works closely with professionals in the industry to craft customized training services to meet employer and worker needs. CCI has become a recognized educational leader that has developed formal partnerships with other educational institutions and government agencies worldwide.

Since its founding in 1978, the CCI has been recognized for its leadership and expertise in gaming education. Whether you require information, planning, assessment, or training, the professionals at CCI have a consulting solution to assist you. CCI’s consulting services are offered in a variety of areas. Our customized work can be individualized to meet any situation.

For more information, visit atlanticcape.edu/cci.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.