In 1967, Bennie Figgins started working at the brand new Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as a casino porter, cleaning the casino floor. More than a half century later, Figgins retired August 31 as a blackjack dealer, and the last remaining team member from Caesars Palace’s first year.
After starting as a casino Figgins became a convention porter, setting up events. He also worked as a dishwasher at the original Bacchanal restaurant kitchen and a busboy in the Circus Maximus showroom before becoming a blackjack dealer in 1971 at the original Palace Casino dome.
In a video, Figgins said his favorite memory is of dealing blackjack to celebrities, “people like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, and Joe Louis,” with Belafonte being his favorite.
To celebrate Figgins’ retirement, Caesars Regional President Sean McBurney gave him a commemorative plaque and a string of crystals from the chandelier in the original casino dome at Caesars Palace.
As he exited as an employee for the last time, Figgins walked a red carpet with his wife as casino employees cheered, a limousine waiting to ferry him home.
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