As Spotlight 29 Casino customers enjoyed the revelry of a $52 million expansion, cost-cutting measures were imposed, resulting in pay cuts to staff.

Twelve percent pay cuts and a temporary halt to 401(k) matches by their employer were announced the same week the ribbon was cut to celebrate the completion of a $52 million casino parking garage, administrative offices and expanded casino floor room.

Robert Paull, general manager, confirmed the cuts this week.

He described the action as a temporary stopgap to weather tough economic times at the casino, which is owned by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.

Las Vegas-styled gaming, once considered a resilient economic industry, has taken its lumps in the current recession.

The latest Indian gaming report for 2009-10 has noted that California Indian gaming revenues fell nearly 6 percent in 2008, a year the economy only began to lose its steam.

“Like many companies in the Coachella Valley, the economy has taken its toll on business,” he said.

“Rather than have to lay off a number of employees, we chose to keep our staff intact and impose salary cuts.”

Paull said employees will continue to get full benefits, which include medical insurance and retirement.

“It is only during this time that Spotlight 29 Casino has chosen to discontinue matching the employees contribution to their 401(k) plan,” he said.

Employees have weathered a wave of layoffs at the casino in recent months, beginning in April with the dismissal of Raymond DelFiandra, general manager for five years, along with his administrative assistant, Amy Redford.

As staffing levels were whittled to about 650, DelFiandra's wife, Diane, the tribe's entertainment booking coordinator, was laid off in May, along with several other senior staffing positions in areas of human resources and food and beverage.

Tribal members or spouses were placed in top posts.

Former tribal chair Dean Mike handled casino operations until Paull was promoted from within the casino organization to the general manager post a few months ago.