At the Lake: Tables turn at Bill's Casino as game dealers are laid off

Approximately 28 table-game dealers have been laid off at Bill's Casino in Stateline. Employees were notified Monday 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 still will operate Bar 24 and its slot machines, Packer said.

Bill's Casino is owned by Harrah's Entertainment, along with Harrah's and Harveys.

Eyewitness accounts Monday afternoon revealed that 13 blackjack tables, a roulette table and a craps table at Bill's were not staffed. A half-dozen patrons milled about two electronic table-game machines, which use dealers projected on video screens to simulate blackjack and three-card poker.

Packer couldn't speculate on the future of operations at Harrah's and Harveys.

"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 usually are busy, Packer said. The downturn reflects the economy, he said.

Leisure industries are hurting because people are watching their dollars, Packer said.

- Tribune staff writer Adam Jensen contributed to this report.