Nearly 30 table-game dealers were laid off from Bill's Casino this afternoon.
Tribune file photo
Approximately 28 table-game dealers have been laid off at Bill’s Casino in Stateline. Employees were notified this afternoon.
“We did restructure our business, which did include the elimination of Bill’s table games,” said John Packer, Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe spokesman. “This is something that unfortunately happened.”
Bill’s Casino is owned by Harrah’s Entertainment.
Eyewitness accounts this afternoon revealed that 13 blackjack tables, a roulette table and a craps table at Bill's were empty. Half a dozen patrons milled about two electronic machines, which use dealers projected on video screens to simulate blackjack and three-card poker table games.
Packer couldn’t speculate on the future of Harrah’s and Harveys’ operations.
“We are constantly looking at our operation and re-evaluating it,” Packer said.
Business is down from last summer, and July and August are the months the casinos are usually busy, Packer said. The downturn reflects the economy, he said.
Leisure industries are hurting because people are watching their dollars, Packer said.
Bill’s will still operate Bar 24 and its slot machines, Packer said.
— Tribune staff writer Adam Jensen contributed to this report.