CHARLESTON, W.Va. - If practice makes perfect, then about 130 new blackjack, roulette, craps and other table games dealers just hired at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center should be ready when the racetrack opens its second round of table games next week.

This week, new dealers were busy practicing for two nights of charity games before Tri-State officially opens blackjack and the other games to the public on Thursday. Tri-State opened its first poker tables in August.

While a bad economy has meant slow business for the casino industry in general, Tri-State operations director Rich Tesler said the addition of table games has helped business at the Nitro racetrack. Tesler hopes the addition of craps, roulette, blackjack, three- and four-card poker and Let It Ride will boost business even more.

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Thursday, Oct. 2 - Roulette dealer Karl Musick spins the wheel as newly hired dealers at Tri-State Racetrack practice for the addition of more table games. Tri-State opened poker tables in August, but is adding craps, roulette, blackjack and other games.

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Tesler also brought in experienced supervisors from outside West Virginia to oversee the new gaming operations. "Experienced people you have to bring from experienced places," he said. "You can't just take somebody off the street."

Since graduating from this summer's dealer schools, about 25 local blackjack dealers have asked to be cross-trained on the craps tables, Tesler said.

Overall, about 60 percent to 70 percent of the track's dealers will be working full time, Tesler said. "You need 30 percent on part-time because of the way the system works," he said, adding that the track needs more dealers on busy weekends than during the week.

Bridgett Dotson, a 21-year-old blackjack dealer from Huntington, said she decided to sign up for dealer school for a better job than the one she had at TicketMaster.

"You aren't sitting in an office all day," she said. "It's fun. There's people. And tips."

James Cuppett, a 23-year-old business management major from Clarksburg, plans to make casinos a career. He hopes to advance up the ladder at Tri-State to work as a pit boss or supervisor.

Cuppett took blackjack classes this summer, but also took courses to run the roulette wheel.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - If practice makes perfect, then about 130 new blackjack, roulette, craps and other table games dealers just hired at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center should be ready when the racetrack opens its second round of table games next week.

This week, new dealers were busy practicing for two nights of charity games before Tri-State officially opens blackjack and the other games to the public on Thursday. Tri-State opened its first poker tables in August.

While a bad economy has meant slow business for the casino industry in general, Tri-State operations director Rich Tesler said the addition of table games has helped business at the Nitro racetrack. Tesler hopes the addition of craps, roulette, blackjack, three- and four-card poker and Let It Ride will boost business even more.

Following dealer schools offered over the summer, Tri-State recently hired 100 blackjack dealers, 15 roulette dealers and 25 craps dealers. The vast majority are local, though Tesler said he had to recruit craps dealers from out-of-state because local residents did not sign up for craps classes.

Tesler also brought in experienced supervisors from outside West Virginia to oversee the new gaming operations. "Experienced people you have to bring from experienced places," he said. "You can't just take somebody off the street."

Since graduating from this summer's dealer schools, about 25 local blackjack dealers have asked to be cross-trained on the craps tables, Tesler said.

Overall, about 60 percent to 70 percent of the track's dealers will be working full time, Tesler said. "You need 30 percent on part-time because of the way the system works," he said, adding that the track needs more dealers on busy weekends than during the week.

Bridgett Dotson, a 21-year-old blackjack dealer from Huntington, said she decided to sign up for dealer school for a better job than the one she had at TicketMaster.

"You aren't sitting in an office all day," she said. "It's fun. There's people. And tips."

James Cuppett, a 23-year-old business management major from Clarksburg, plans to make casinos a career. He hopes to advance up the ladder at Tri-State to work as a pit boss or supervisor.

Cuppett took blackjack classes this summer, but also took courses to run the roulette wheel.

"Roulette's a lot of fun," he said. "There's a lot more to do than just dealing cards. It's a lot more exciting."

But the most complicated game by far is craps, explained George Eveich, a 35-year-old craps dealer recruited to work at Tri-State from Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in Chester.

"It's the most exciting game in the casino," said Eveich.

The rules and different ways to play are complicated, he said, "but once you learn it, it's easy to master."

Players bet on how they think a pair of dice will fall, but there are a number of different ways to bet.

"There are so many different ways to play the game," Eveich said. "The bets are bigger, the stakes are higher and the odds of winning are lower. But if you do hit it, you win a lot more money.

"You can win or lose in a hurry," he said. "That's what makes it so exciting."

Tri-State will offer charity games from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday so state lottery officials can observe the dealers. Members of the public are invited to participate.

If all goes well, Tri-State will open its new games to the general public at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.