Casino still hiring despite expected shutdown

Friday, May 22, 1998 | 10:30 a.m.

Lady Luck, which is being purchased by Grand Casinos, expected to close its doors on June 8. But if the deal isn't completed by that date, the casino will continue operations.

"We are putting help wanted ads in The Sun Herald because there's a possibility that we will go beyond the June 8 date that we've released to our employees," said Joe Giardina, casino general manager.

"It's kind of a crazy situation for the management team," he said. "We're trying to keep it open just in case, and we're also taking some steps to close."

Robert Walsh, a spokesman for Lady Luck Gaming in Nevada, said the transaction faced some "minor hurdles," but he said the deal is fine and unlikely to cause a delay in the casino's June 8 closing.

"It's a slim possibility," Walsh said. "Very slim."

Grand Casinos spokeswoman Jaye Snyder said she was aware of no new developments in the company's efforts to buy the Biloxi casino boat and about five acres of beachfront property.

Lady Luck is looking for employees in surveillance, security, table games, slots and valet. Ninety employees have left the casino since the April 6 announcement that the casino would be sold for $15 million.

"We still have about 410 out of 500 employees left," Giardina said. "Some of these employees are working double-shifts.

"I think we've surprised a lot of people, that so many of our loyal employees have stayed on."

Giardina said all of the casino's managers would be working throughout the Memorial Day weekend to help handle heavy seasonal business.

"A lot of the locals have stopped coming to the casino because they think we're already closed," he said, "but we've been getting a lot of tourists."