Caesars Palace fires 45 dealers

Friday, July 12, 2002 | 10:54 a.m.

Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s Caesars Palace casino has terminated 45 of its roughly 500 dealers.

The layoffs, which are permanent, were prompted by the company's wish to allow those placed on four-day work weeks after Sept. 11 the opportunity to work five-day schedules, spokeswoman Debbie Munch said Thursday.

Park Place laid off at least 2,100 workers following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

A substantial number of dealers have been working four-day weeks since then, Munch said.

Employees with the least amount of experience with Park Place were let go, allowing dealers with more seniority the opportunity to capture full work schedules, she said.

The move also was timed to the construction of the Caesars Palace Colosseum, a $95 million replica of the ancient arena in Rome.

The casino floor bordering the Colosseum will be temporarily reduced in size while construction is under way, meaning that fewer dealers will be required, Munch said.

That part of the casino also will be upgraded to match the entryway to the 4,000-seat arena, set to open in March with a music and dance show featuring recording artist Celine Dion.

A source familiar with the situation, who declined to be named, said Caesars Palace dealers are some of the best paid on the Strip.

The casino's dealers can make upwards of $70,000 a year with tips, the source said.