HARRISBURG — Officials say the advent of table games at Pennsylvania casinos — and marketing to Asian populations — has spurred a hiring boom of workers of Asian descent for jobs at gambling establishments in the commonwealth.

Asians appear as a stand-alone demographic in the Gaming Control Board’s annual diversity report for the first time, after being included as “other” in earlier reports because the number of workers was so small.

Asians now account for more than 7 percent of casino workers statewide, overtaking the Hispanic category that maintained a 5 percent share of the employment. African Americans account for nearly 12 percent of casino employees, while the proportion of Caucasians has dropped to 75 percent from 82 percent in June of last year.

The report says more than 900 African Americans were hired, more than 770 Asians and more than 250 Hispanics.