Long run by hoteliers, Caesars’ casino management reinforced

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Park Place Entertainment Corp. executives and former Caesars Palace officials are discounting rumors of widespread layoffs at the venerable Strip resort.

In fact, say Park Place officials, only a handful of Caesars executives have been let go since Park Place closed on its acquisition of Caesars World Inc. last month.

Two key Caesars executives -- Peter Boynton and Paul O'Neil -- left of their own volition, said Park Place Executive Vice President Mark Dodson, while two Caesars casino managers and a slot manager were replaced by Park Place employees.

Boynton, former president of Caesars World, retired when the takeover was completed, while O'Neil, ex-Caesars Palace president, decided against taking a position at Park Place corporate headquarters, Dodson said.

O'Neil was replaced at Caesars Palace last week by Dean Harrold, who had run Park Place's Las Vegas Hilton.

Another Caesars official was terminated after a New Year's weekend problem in the baccarat pit, Dodson said.

And the duties of long-time Caesars race and sports book boss Vinny Magliulo are likely to change, with Park Place's Art Manteris setting betting lines and Magliulo eventually moving into the marketing arena.

"We wanted to re-instill a casino philosophy after Caesars had been run by a hotel company for five years," Dodson said, noting experienced Park Place gaming executives such as Harrold have taken over some of the vacated positions.

A few other Caesars employees who worked on the hotel-casino's transition from Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Park Place ownership knew as early as last August they'd be replaced when the merger was completed.

"Caesars employees have had to be very resilient over the past five or six years because of all the ownerships changes," said one former department head who requested anonymity. The owners have included ITT Corp., Starwood and now Park Place.

"The staff has survived because of its esprit de corps," he said. "That's where Park Place bought a real winner. And everyone is still optimistic about Park Place doing the right thing."