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Casinos Offer Laid Off Workers New Careers

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Jun 30, 2009 7:48 pm US/Mountain

Casinos Offer Laid Off Workers New Careers

Reporting
Stan Bush
BLACK HAWK, Colo. (CBS4) ― Some Coloradans who have been laid off are gambling on a new career to help them beat the recession. They've started new jobs at casinos after voters allowed extended hours and limits.

The changes at casinos start at midnight Wednesday.

Nine months ago John Quintana would never had pictured himself dealing blackjack. He was working in telecommunications until he was claimed in a round of layoffs and couldn't find work anywhere.

"Thinking about having to pay that mortgage payment and that's what I was most worried about, continuing on, making enough money to pay the mortgage, so that was real tough. It was getting tougher and tougher as the months rolled on," Quintana said.

Quintana did find work thanks to the new state law allowing craps, roulette and higher betting limits in Colorado casinos. Nearly 40 people like Quintana found new careers at Fitzgeralds Casino in Black Hawk.

Colorado casinos are trying to change their image from cheap slot machines to higher-stakes tables. If they can keep a small crowd from traveling to Las Vegas, the payoff could be big. Fitzgeralds hopes to get a 20 percent increase in revenue.

"It's a big relief for me and my family as far as my own personal well-being. It's helped tremendously," Quintana said.

Maximum bets will be raised to $100 starting Thursday.

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