Over 1,000 applicants are reported to have applied for jobs at the upcoming Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds. Victoria Gate is a 1,400 guest entertainment hub that is to house the third largest casino in the UK – a 50,000 square feet gaming area that is projected to generate 205 jobs, ranging from retail and food handling to security and casino operations. Only three months ago the casino announced they will begin hiring, prompting many prospective job holders from the area to try their luck at becoming the next Victoria Gate trainee.

According to official sources, after reviewing job applications the first batch of 35 employees has been already sent to the “Casino School” , which is a six-week training program aimed at preparing the trainees for the VIP opening that’s scheduled for early 2017. All 35 future staff members belong to the UK’s NEET category (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and are mostly from the surrounding areas of the city.

The courses will be conducted by staff members from the Blackpool and the Fylde college in Blackpool, Lancashire and once finished will award the employees with a NVQ Level 2 diploma in Gambling Operations. The training program was designed to cover a number of important subjects, including poker, blackjack, and roulette games, as well as other areas like health and safety standards, gambling laws, social responsibility, and odds-based courses in math.

Speaking of the upcoming training session, Victoria Gate Casino venue director Patrick Noakes said that since the company’s plan was to build a top-of-the line venue that covers both gaming as well as hospitality, they want to ensure their leisure staff is the best one around – something that can be achieved only by providing professional training and qualification. To that end, the company is also taking care to pick a diverse and eager team of individuals that can provide that prime level of service they want to achieve.