More than 200 employees at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, W.Va., don't believe that gambling is paying off for them.

The 206 members of Local 23 of the United Food & Commercial Workers walked off their jobs at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after months of talks failed to produce a new labor agreement. Their contract expired March 1.

Since the strike began, Mountaineer managers, supervisors and other employees have been filling the slot technician, attendant, cashier and count room jobs normally handled by union workers.

In a prepared statement Sunday, the casino declared that it was "business as usual" with managers "seamlessly" assuming the strikers' jobs. Mountaineer said the $1.1 million in slots revenue generated Saturday night was the second-highest Saturday of the month.

But Kevin Kilroy, director of public affairs for the union, painted a different story, saying some customers complained to strikers about "absolute chaos" and understaffing in the casino.

"My experience is that companies in this position are going to put the best face on a bad situation," he said.

No new talks have been scheduled to try to resolve the dispute, which centers on wages and the cost of employee health care.

Mr. Kilroy said wages range from $6.50 an hour to nearly $13 an hour, with the average settling at $9.34 an hour. He said they are lower than neighboring Wheeling Island racetrack and casino and Erie's Presque Isle Downs & Casino, which is operated by Mountaineer President and Chief Executive Officer Ted Arneault.

At the same time, union members are paying about 30 percent of their salaries toward health care. Mr. Kilroy said some workers on a family plan are paying as much as $100 a week for insurance. About 25 percent of members don't even pick up coverage because of the cost, he said.

On the other hand, top managers who make more than $100,000 a year are paying about 18 percent toward their health care, he maintained.

Wages are so low, he added, that some workers qualify for food stamps, energy assistance and other government programs. Instead of the casino bringing jobs into the area, "it's becoming a drain on taxpayers."

Tamara Pettit, Mountaineer director of public relations, defended the benefits offered by the casino.

"In this area, jobs with benefits are at a premium. With Weirton Steel and unemployment as high as it is ... we feel we have a good benefits plan," she said.

Since the strike began, seven union members have returned to work, and another five were expected yesterday afternoon, she said.

The Meadows had an "extraordinary weekend," spokesman David La Torre said, but much of that was due to a special weekend promotion that offered the casino's best customers $200 of free play for a night.

Given that, "it's really hard to say what effect, if any, the strike had," he said. Ms. Pettit said Mountaineer crowds "are holding" despite the walkout."