Hal Darnold, 67, of Charleston has wanted to be a blackjack dealer since Tri-State Racing and Gaming Center's table games were approved. He signed up for the dealer classes once before, but setbacks at the track delayed the start of classes.

On Monday, he was back, testing and registering for classes during one of three job fairs Tri-State is holding this week.

"I love to watch people gamble," Darnold said while beginning a pre-test. "A lot of money [from the table games] is going to help people in the area. Where's the bad story? There isn't one."

On Monday afternoon, Ron LaDuca, director of table games at Tri-State, said about 40 people had applied for various positions. Along with dealers, the facility was looking for security/surveillance, food/beverage and money room positions, he said.

The facility is hiring full-time and part-time workers, he said, including about 300 dealers.

For dealer positions, job seekers must take a multiple-week course before starting work. Classes will begin at West Virginia State Community and Technical College the first week of June. Poker, roulette and blackjack classes are $490 for a seven-week course. The 11-week craps course costs $770.

In August 2007, Kanawha County voters approved poker and other casino games at Tri-State. In October, the racetrack hosted a job fair, with dozens of people paying $350 to pre-register for dealer classes, which would have begun in November or December 2007.

Officials had hoped to have the table games up and running by the beginning of 2008.

However, delays in the election, getting equipment and finding certified instructors pushed back the classes.

Now, dealer training classes are scheduled to end in July, LaDuca said. Following the classes, potential dealers have to obtain licensing, which will take an additional one to two weeks, he said.

Hal Darnold, 67, of Charleston has wanted to be a blackjack dealer since Tri-State Racing and Gaming Center's table games were approved. He signed up for the dealer classes once before, but setbacks at the track delayed the start of classes.

On Monday, he was back, testing and registering for classes during one of three job fairs Tri-State is holding this week.

"I love to watch people gamble," Darnold said while beginning a pre-test. "A lot of money [from the table games] is going to help people in the area. Where's the bad story? There isn't one."

On Monday afternoon, Ron LaDuca, director of table games at Tri-State, said about 40 people had applied for various positions. Along with dealers, the facility was looking for security/surveillance, food/beverage and money room positions, he said.

The facility is hiring full-time and part-time workers, he said, including about 300 dealers.

For dealer positions, job seekers must take a multiple-week course before starting work. Classes will begin at West Virginia State Community and Technical College the first week of June. Poker, roulette and blackjack classes are $490 for a seven-week course. The 11-week craps course costs $770.

In August 2007, Kanawha County voters approved poker and other casino games at Tri-State. In October, the racetrack hosted a job fair, with dozens of people paying $350 to pre-register for dealer classes, which would have begun in November or December 2007.

Officials had hoped to have the table games up and running by the beginning of 2008.

However, delays in the election, getting equipment and finding certified instructors pushed back the classes.

Now, dealer training classes are scheduled to end in July, LaDuca said. Following the classes, potential dealers have to obtain licensing, which will take an additional one to two weeks, he said.

Tri-State is also sponsoring a fair at the Big Sandy Superstore Area in Huntington today and at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center in Beckley on Thursday. Both fairs run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Joe Workman, 26, of Nitro was filling out an application for a security position at Tri-State. He just got out of the Army in April and has military police and law enforcement experience.

He's glad the racetrack has expanded its operations.

"I think it's great," he said. "It will add a lot more jobs in the area."

Charles Haverty, 67, of Chloe came to the job fair for an obvious reason.

"I need a job. ... I need something to subsidize my income," he said, adding that he is retired and collects Social Security.

He's worked in a casino before, spending four or five months working as a cook. "I like the atmosphere [of a casino]," he said

Now, he wants to be out on the floor, dealing poker.

 "When they said they were going to open this up, I just smiled. It's great in every way. ... And I need something to cut down on my own poker playing," he said, with a little laugh. "

To contact staff writer Sarah K. Winn, use e-mail or call 348-5156.