Caesars Palace’s last year-one employee retires after 55 years
The last remaining employee who started working at Caesars Palace in its first year (1967), has retired after 55 years.
The employee, Benny Figgins, was hired at the property on 27 April 1967 and held positions in five different departments at the property.
He began as a casino porter, before working as a convention porter, a dishwasher and a busboy, before settling as a blackjack dealer in 1971.
Figgins has held his position as a blackjack dealer ever since, retiring after 51 years in the position.
According to Caesars Entertainment, Figgins received a “grand send-off fit for a Caesar” to help him celebrate retirement.
This included a standing ovation at the start of his final shift and a limousine ride home.
Figgins was further awarded a commemorative plaque and a string of crystals from the original chandelier that hung in the first casino dome at Caesars Palace. The casino dome at Caesars Palace has undergone renovations since 1967.
Caesars says Figgins has many highlights over his years of service, including dealing cards to and meeting with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Diana Ross, Henry Belafonte and Joe Louis.
Figgins also met his wife at the casino in the early 1970s, who worked as a PDX operator and table games dealer for 38 years.
The recent retiree says he will miss working at Caesars Palace, which has been his home away from home.
In 2016, Caesars noted that Figgins was one of five year-one employees still working at the property, all of whom received a 50th-anniversary pin in honour of their work. Figgins was the last of these year-one employees.
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
