by Ed DeRosa

MTR Gaming Group Inc. laid off 93 employees at its flagship facility in Chester, West Virginia, on Friday.

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort is a Thoroughbred racino in the northern West Virginia panhandle, and all employees affected by the layoffs work in the company’s gaming division. Racing operations were not affected.

MTR Gaming says the layoffs reduced its workforce by 4%, leaving the company with an employee roster of about 2,230. MTR Gaming also operates Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, Running Aces in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio.

“We believe it’s necessary to take these steps to remain competitive,” MTR Gaming Director of Public Relations Tamara Pettit said. “Our focus remains on first-rate customer service and growing our profit margin.”

The layoffs occurred three weeks after Bob Griffin officially replaced Ted Arneault as the company’s president and chief executive officer and Jeffrey Jacobs of Jacobs Entertainment Inc. replaced Arneault as company chairman.

“As the largest employer in Hancock County, [West Virginia], it’s vital that we act to ensure that Mountaineer is profitable and that we continue to provide jobs for residents and revenue for our county and West Virginia,” Griffin said.

Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times