Need for casino employees fuels classes

Monday, April 17, 2000 | 10 a.m.

Red Rocks Community College took a step toward easing the crunch last week by wheeling in slot machines into a classroom of the Red Rocks Institute and holding its first class for slot machine technicians.

Classes for slot attendants and mechanics are on the way, with a possibility of training in casino management, blackjack and poker to be added if the slots programs go well.

"Last year some human resources officers (from gambling casinos) walked into my office and wanted to know why they had to send a lot of their people to Nevada to train them," said Rich Hawkins, the institute's executive director. "Red Rocks Community College goes out, finds a need and we address it."

Casino business is strong in Cripple Creek, and the opening of four multimillion-dollar casinos in Black Hawk during the past two years has countered the closing of a string of smaller casinos in nearby Central City.

"I will bet you that even the best of casinos are 10 percent light (on employees)," said Medill Barnes of the Black Hawk casino owners association.

Reds Rock program instructor Todd Seymour, a veteran employee of Harvey's Wagon Wheel Casino in Central City, said the classes begin with students filling out applications for a gaming license.

"We don't want to take their money if they can't get a license," Seymour said.

The $595 cost of classes pays for training on the workings of slot machines used in the three gambling towns, Seymour and Hawkins said.

"We want to make sure the students we put out are at least qualified to go up the hill and get a job," Seymour said.

Most of those jobs offer a such perks as bus transportation to and from work, free meals or meals at reduced prices, health insurance, 401(k) retirement plans and competitive pay, Hawkins said.

"Slot floor workers earn between $8 and $13.50 an hour, and then there's tips," Seymour said. "Most of the floor people pool their tips, and they could make from $2 to $9 an hour more in tips."

Hawkins added that blackjack and poker dealers have been known to earn $60,000 to $80,000 a year.