Culinary Union Local 226 members gathered Monday to vote on whether to increase the workers’ strike fund.

The proposed increase would raise member dues by $25. The current dues are $41.50. In the event of a strike, that money would go to members of culinary union.

Enande Martinez turned out to vote and said they do not anticipate a strike in the future; however, she voted in order to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.           

“At this time, we are not looking out that there is going to be one because the company is going to sign a beautiful contract that is going to be good for the company and good for the working people,” Martinez said.

This vote comes two weeks before contracts between major gaming companies and the union are set to expire. The negotiations impacted more than 40,000 employees at Strip and downtown casinos. 

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Gambling is moving beyond the casinos, onto the Internet and into American homes.

Three states, Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, have legalized online gambling so far, and others are expected to follow shortly. A Las Vegas firm, Ultimate Gaming, began taking online bets in Nevada on Tuesday.

Frank Fahrenkopf, head of the casinos' main trade association, says Internet gambling will mark the greatest expansion of legalized gambling in the United States.

States and gambling companies predict billions in new revenue from online gambling.

But concerns include layoffs at brick-and-mortar casinos if more gamblers stay at home and bet online, and a possible increase in compulsive gamblers once people can gamble at 3 a.m. from the kitchen table in their pajamas.