For several weeks, some of the province's 1,450 dealers, or croupiers, have been wearing union T-shirts to protest the installation of electronic Texas Hold'em poker machines in three casinos, The Gazette newspaper in Montreal reported.

The croupiers have been working without a contract since December 2006, and they are seeking a new one with changes to their pension plan, the newspaper said.

Their union announced beginning Thursday dealers would work in jeans to protest delays in negotiations.

However, the Loto-Quebec regulatory agency issued a statement saying that was illegal, as croupiers cannot wear pants with pockets, the Gazette said.

Union officials said unless talks begin soon, casinos would shut down July 25.