The career development of female executives in the Las Vegas casino industry was the focus of a recent study by the UNLV International Gaming Institute. The study was particularly concerned with ascertaining facilitators and constraints to women's career advancement. as perceived by the industry's female executives. Two distinct perspectives were assessed - career advancement in the casino industry in general and female executives' individual career experiences. In addition, the motivations of female executives to pursue a career. their career approach and their career paths were examined.

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 160 female executives, representing all major casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the Boulder Strip and in the Downtown area. The sample was derived from information provided in the Casino Business Directory (North American Edition) 1997. Sixty completed questionnaires were received during the survey period. April 1998. constituting a response rate of 37.5%.

Survey participants had considerable experience in the casino industry with 70% of respondents having worked for casinos for more than 10 years. Almost 30% of the executives had been in the industry for more than 20 years. Consequently, respondents were very well suited to comment not only on the current state of the industry but also on the changes affecting women's progress in the industry that had occurred over the years.

Female executives identified the "old boys' network". male bias and stereotyping, and negative perceptions of females in executive positions as the most important constraints to their own career progression. These factors were also perceived as the most important obstacles to women's progress in the industry today. It was. however, also noted that in many instances a lack of assertiveness on the part of the women hindered their advance to executive positions in the Las Vegas casino industry.

Turning from career constraints to career facilitators, hard work, interpersonal and communication skills, personality and job knowledge were ranked highest in terms of factors contributing to women's advance to top management positions in the city's casino industry. The perceptions on the importance of mentors and informal networks were somewhat more varied. It was, however, interesting to note that respondents perceived these latter two factors more important to women's career advance in general than they had been in their own careers. One plausible explanation is that many female executives may not have been able to take advantage of the benefits offered by having mentors and being part of informal networks despite realizing their importance to career advancement.

A copy of the final report, detailing and discussing all results of the study. will be forwarded to survey participants in June. Inquiries regarding this study may be directed to UNLV's International Gaming Institute at (702)895-3412.

The author of the study, Ms. Karin Weber a graduate student at the Harrah Hotel (College, would like to take this opportunity to thank all the female executives who took the time to participate in this study despite their busy schedules.