Tony Rodio -Tropicana in Atlantic City

Tony Rodio joined Tropicana in 2011 and currently serves as President and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc and President and CEO of Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City. Immediately prior to taking the helm at Tropicana, he served as General Manager at Hollywood Casino in Indiana for three successful years.
Tracing his career path back as far as 1990, Rodio has steered several Atlantic City casinos to profitability in executive posts such as President of the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Casino, Regional Chief Financial Officer at Harrah's and Showboat Atlantic City and Vice President of Finance at both Trump Marina and Resorts Casino.
Today, Rodio also serves on the boards of many professional and charitable organizations including Atlantic City Alliance, Atlantic City Tourism Advisory Commission, United Way of Atlantic County, and the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality & Tourism. He is the President of the Casino Association of New Jersey.

Needless to say, I was honored that a man of Mr. Rodio's stature would
allow me the time to interview him. Our conversation covered several
topics. The primary focus was about online gaming.



1). Nevada is taking the soft opening approach by only offering poker.
New Jersey is being more aggressive and offering all existing gaming.
Which market will grow the fastest? "New Jersey. The population is larger
than Nevada. New Jersey is also offering all the games, which will start
I Gaming out at a higher rate of play. This will enable the market to grow
faster."

2). The fear of cannibalization is expressed with the brick and mortar

player staying at home and not visiting the casino. Do you share that

belief? "No. The amenities that Atlantic City has to offer will bring

people to the shore. We have 100 of the best restaurants, world class

shows and spas. And let's not forget the world famous Atlantic City

beach and boardwalk.This will work hand in hand with the marketing

opportunities from I Gaming."

 

3). Social Gaming is looking to participate in the Atlantic City market.
Zynga is mention prominently. Can these two worlds co-exist?
"We have 12 licenses in New Jersey. It all depends on who partners
with who. It will be very interesting if a social network operator merges
with an existing casino operator."

4).Will the Atlantic City market grow? "Yes. Now that Sandy is behind
us along with the addition of I Gaming the future looks bright for Atlantic
City. I expect the decline that we have seen for the past couple years
will reverse. I can't say when. I do know it's going to happen."

5).How much revenue do you think I Gaming will generate? "I see
the market being in the range of 500 million per year. We plan to be a
player in the market from day one."

6). What influence has Governor Christie had in the movement to revitalize
Atlantic City? "Governor Christie has been supportive of gaming and
tourism in Atlantic City. The ability of the CRDA to reinvest money right
here in AC is tremendous. The creation of the Atlantic City Alliance is
another piece taking us in the right direction."

7) What role will responsible gaming play in an online environment?
"Software will be available to us that can identify behavioral changes
in our players. We will take this very seriously. We will treat this area
the same way we do in our current casino operations."

I want to thank Mr. Rodio for his time and candid answers. I expect big
things from Tropicana.

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GTech Speaks Gaming in Atlantic City

 

At the East Coast Gaming Conference, in Atlantic City, I had the opportunity to speak with William Scott and Adam Olrog. They represented

GTECH at the conference. William is the Vice President of GTECH.

Adam is the Marketing Manager. William was also a member of the distinguish I Gaming panel in the afternoon session. GTECH is a leading gaming technology and services company, providing innovative technology, creative content, and superior service delivery.

I connected with both gentlemen for several questions.

1).What are some of the games that GTech has to offer?  "We have
Bingo, Poker, Casino Games and Sports Betting. We also have Player
Management Services as a support to the operator. We are in all regulatory
markets."

2). What games are the most popular? "Sports Betting by far. In Europe,
the revenue from mobile is significant. It is an important aspect of I Gaming."

3). How long does one play?  "Anywhere from 3 times a day, up to 9
minutes each time. If someone is wagering on sports, the tendency is to play more but at shorter intervals."

4). How does the multi channel operation fare against off line only?
"I would like to compare two fantastic operators that are totally opposite.
Bwin.Party is strictly on line and William Hill has all channels, including
brick and mortar.  You must have the right product, people and partnerships
in order to be successful."

5) Should social media be involved? "Absolutely! The use of social media drives the brand and bring traffic to your site. It is the perfect way to build the customer base for free."

6) Any advice to the New Jersey Casino Operators?  "Make a commitment
with the right people in place. If you have a slot machine on your casino
floor that is under performing, you may wait 3 to 6 months before you make a decision. A decision in I Gaming can be made in 1 day.
You must react quickly."


I want to thank William and Adam for answering my questions.

Reach out to GTech and Mr. Scott at william.scott@gtech.com

               Follow me for more on Twitter at @GamingGuyM

NBA Playoffs Conference Finals

First, the recap of the second round
I picked Miami in 5, win
Selected Spurs in 5, they won in 6
Took Thunder in 6, lost in 5
I picked the Pacers in 6 if Melo was not injured, win

3-1

I like the Spurs over Memphis in 6. Spurs are clicking on all fronts.
Advantage with Duncan over Gasol and Parker over Conley. They
win the coaching matchup too. A fast athletic team gives the Spurs
problems. Memphis is not that.

I like the Heat in 5 over the Pacers. Heat are playing well with Wade  at
less than 80%.  Does not matter. Bosh, James and Cole are rolling.
Pacers don't score enough and Miami is defensively sound to keep from being exploited inside. Injury to West will limit paint domination.

Las Vegas and Arizona Vacation

The following photos are scenes from Las Vegas and Arizona. Las Vegas is the resort where dreams come true. Arizona is the valley of the sun. Both areas have desert and dry humidity. Arizona and Las Vegas have awesome
tourist attractions that include the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and the infamous Strip. See the fun these ladies are having and wish you were there.

  

What's up?  I'm Krystal and I am your tour guide for this fantasy vacation.

I decided to go to Las Vegas not only to celebrate my friend's birthday but also to get a geographical sense of the desert's landscaping and artwork on the fabulous strip. As soon as you land, there were about 30 slot machines in the airport's waiting area. The air was dry but very comfortable at 73 degrees F.

We made our way to our hotel, Planet Hollywood. It is located on the strip.

The strip was full of people including, couples, small families, the single ready to mingle groups, impersonators, entertainers, and us. Next,we enjoyed The +Freemont Experience, which is located about 10 mins off the strip. There were souvenir shops and vendors in this area. Also I went zip lining above it all.

Another attraction on the strip was New Yorker roller coaster. A nice fast ride. We also went to see a show called COCO's Peep Show which was exciting. There were a few celebrities in attendance. Here's one.

I took this picture of the +Bellagio and Caesars Palace. My favorite view of Vegas. I am a photographer but more about that later.

Three of my co workers took the scenic route and drove to Vegas from
Scottsdale +Arizona. They gamble at a casino and experience the terrain
up close. They found the people extremely friendly. It was the fastest 4 days
they ever spent. Check out their pictures.

Now get the view from Red Rock Canyon. There is more to Vegas than
Glitter Gulch.

The grand finale was a birthday photo that was posted on +MGM Grand. A priceless shot.

                Happy Birthday to Stephanie, Lady "D" , Maritza and YaYa.

                           Follow me for more at @GamingGuyM

Deitra Leak - The Actress

 

 

Deitra is living the dream. She works in the highly charged environment of a casino and is an actress in film and theatre productions. One of these positions would consume the average person.

Deitra Leak is far from average. She has taken a meteoric rise in both of her fields.

She was a Casino Dealer in Atlantic City, NJ for 15 years. Deitra currently works as a Casino Pit Manager in her hometown of Philadelphia. She is an actress by day and a CPM by night.

Deitra was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA to parents JoAnn and John. She is the eldest amongst her two sisters. Deitra caught the acting bug early in age, when she starred in her 4th grade school play. She has done numerous modeling and acting jobs through the years in her city as well as the tri-state area.

Most recently, Deitra plays Melanie Banks in this movie thriller "The Church". This film will hit the movie theaters in late 2013. She is currently promoting the film and her career by traveling to different cities. Her travel plans include New York City, Los Angeles and Cincinnati

She is also featured in a docu series on the Oprah Winfrey Network called "Unfaithful Stories of Betrayal". Deitra also has supporting roles in “Casting” and "Love and Litigation". These independent films will be shopped to all of the film festivals, so keep an eye out for them! She was also the lead in a short for the 24 Hour Film Racing Festival called "I Am Didi".

Deitra recently landed the lead role in the play, “The Conversation”. She played the role of Pam. She was able to show her range as an actress in this production. Deitra is receptive to all stage and screen opportunities. She possesses a stunning physical presence that transcends into the characters she portrays.

 

 

I was able to finally catch Deitra for eight questions. I have really been looking forward to this.

 

                    How long have you wanted to be an actress?  "I’ve always wanted to be an actress since I was little. My mother used to wake me up at night and have me perform for her friends. So, I would sing and dance to Diana Ross songs."

  

                     What was your first role?  "My very first role was the mother (Lead) in a Paul Laurence Dunbar poem  named “In The Morning” for my 4th grade play. I LOVED IT!"

                     

                     Who is the person whose artistic style you would emulate if you could and why? "Wow, there are so many! I really like Ashley Judd, Jodie Foster and Angela Bassett.  Their range is very inspiring and I can only aspire to be so great! I even use one of Jodie Foster’s movies for my monologue when I audition for roles."

What's the most demanding role you ever played?  “The Conversation” play, I played the role of Pam who is free spirited and pretty much tired of the games men play. She has a confrontation part where she has tell one of her best friends that she knew her best friend’s boyfriend cheated on her. Very, very demanding and emotional."

What quote inspires you? “The bigger risk, the bigger the reward”! I’m ready!

You have been fortunate to appear in theatre and film. Which medium is your preference and why?  "I love TV and film. But, theater definitely challenges you to the max! Not only do you have to memorize your lines, you have to memorize everyone else’s lines as well. A lot of focus as oppose to TV and film where you can cut and retake that scene if you mess up."

If you could be on the cover of any magazine, which one would it be?  "I would love to be on Elle or Vogue. In my head I believe I’m a fashionista! LOL."

    

If you were in a romantic scene that would you want as your co-star?

"OMG it would be Idris Elba! I’m his biggest fan! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his english accent!"

 

 

I have a feeling these two are going to meet. Perhaps below.

 

I am happy to announce that I will be following Deitra Leak with exclusives for the next few months. This will include any trips, premieres, personal appearances and business announcements.

Deitra has several projects coming up so stay tune to her on Twitter and Facebook.
@WhoisDeitraLeak  and Deitra Actress Leak
 

 

             Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM

 

 

 

 

                                 

 

 

NBA Playoffs Round 2

First, Let's recap round one.
I pick Memphis in 7: They won in 6
Boston in 5: They lost in 6
Miami in 5: They won in 4
Denver in 6: They lost in 6
Oklahoma City in 5: They won in 6
Pacers and Chicago were suggested but not definitive. Both teams won.

The second round has the Spurs vs the Warriors. The experience of the
Spurs should overwhelm the Warriors. Warriors will have Curry and
Jack but little else. Spurs in 5.

OKC will be tested by Memphis. Durant will have his way. Gasol and
Randolph will make this series go to 6 before falling.

Miami will defeat Chicago and head to the Eastern Conference Finals. Lebron James is MVP and proves it. Rose may attempt to play. Will not
matter. The series will be physical but Miami will end it in 5.

Indiana will face the New York Knicks. Pacers will be a tougher opponent
than the Celtics. They play better defense and can match up with Chandler.
Melo injured his shoulder and that will be a factor. If Anthony is 80% ,the
series goes 6. If not it goes five. Pacers win regardless.

The co-host of  #GTLivechat, Nkeshi Free, has submitted her picks for the
second round of the playoffs.  They are below.

NBA Conference Semi-Finals:

Nkeshi Free’s Picks

Eastern Conference

Miami-Chicago

I predict Miami in six games but if Dwayne Wade isn’t healthy the Bulls could force a game seven. The Heat are rested so in theory they should have fresh legs and plenty of energy. The other side to that coin is all that rest could make them slow to get back into their rhythm. The Heat are a well-oiled machine when LeBron James, Wade and Chris Bosh are on the court. If Wade is unable to play throughout the semis due to the injury to his right knee, it will be up to shooting guard Ray Allen, Chris “Birdman” Anderson, point guard Mario Chalmers and small forward Shane Battier to step up and fill the gap.

The Bulls are limping into the semis after a hard fought contest with the Brooklyn Nets. After a seven game series, numerous injuries and illnesses, the Bulls face an up-hill battle against the Heat. The reason this series will be a contest is the fact that the Bulls have a will to win. Joakim Noah willed this team to life with an impressive win over the Nets to advance to the semis. The bench stepped up with starters Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich both out due to illness and injury respectively. Noah also faced injury early in the series, but he put this team on his back. I expect that though they are beaten and tired the Bulls will not go out without a fight.

Indiana-New York

I predict New York in six games but it won’t be a pretty contest. While, the Knicks have a more star filled roster they have a habit of not playing to their potential and getting content. This fact was extremely evident in the humbling game four loss to Celtics. Anticipating a sweep of the former NBA champs, the Knicks players arrived dressed in all black, to symbolize the end of the Celtics. Only they didn’t die and beat the Knicks by 7 points in New York. In game six, the Knicks almost blew a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter before clinching their spot in the semi-finals.

Indiana also had a tough time closing out against the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the semi-final round. The challenge for this Pacers team is youth and inexperience. Former Georgetown big man Roy Hibbert, is going to be critical to stopping the Kicks offense. That means rebounding especially on defense to not allow Knicks any second chance points. With time and a few more pieces ,the Pacers will be a major force in the upcoming seasons.

 

NBA Conference Semi-Finals:

Nkeshi Free’s Picks

Western Conference

Oklahoma City-Memphis

This is the series to watch. It’s going to be tough, gritty and go down to the wire. I wanted this match-up, but hoped they would meet in the Conference Finals. I’ve said all along the West goes through Memphis or OKC. That said I pick OKC in seven games. This is one of the more evenly matched games of the NBA Playoffs. Both teams will match up in terms of talent and intensity, but the edge goes to OKC. Durant said he’s “tired of being second!”

San Antonio-Golden State

Despite their age, I’m going with Spurs in five games for this series. I think Tim Duncan has one more series in him and we’ll see a return of the giant. Parker is once again going to shine as the leader of this Spurs team. The veteran leadership and chemistry is what is going to give the Spurs the edge over the Warriors.

Curry is going to come out swinging and his teammates are going to give him support, but Curry isn’t Parker (yet) and he doesn’t have a Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili. Richard Jefferson is going to help with the veteran leadership but he can’t do it all.

The other and important piece to this match-up that I didn’t use as a factor for the other games are the teams coaches. Mark Jackson, while passionate with heart and leadership isn’t Gregg Popovich. Pop truly knows his players and is part of the chemistry that has made the Spurs a force in the NBA and four time champions. Coaching and the ability to know when, how and what adjustments to make throughout the game are going to be as important as who is on the court.

LeBron James won his fourth MVP award Sunday, finishing just one vote shy of winning the honor unanimously. Carmelo Anthony was the only other player to receive a first-place vote.

Player	Points
LeBron James	1,207
Kevin Durant	765
Carmelo Anthony	475
Chris Paul	289
Kobe Bryant	184
Others receiving votes: Tony Parker (86 points); Tim Duncan (65); James Harden (33); Russell Westbrook (9); Dwyane Wade (5); Stephen Curry (3); Kevin Garnett (1); David Lee (1); Ty Lawson (1); Marc Gasol (1); Joakim Noah (1).

 The following is a video of Lebron James and his acceptance of the MVP
 award for 2012-2013.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9241461

                     Follow Keshi on Twitter at @KeshisCuties
                     Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM

Danielle Gomes - Author of Hit Me! Fighting the Las Vegas Mob by the Numbers

Danielle Gomes is a freelance writer and filmmaker. She co-wrote and narrated a documentary short on America’s homeless that won a Telly Award and a Videographer’s Award of Excellence. A member of the Association of Writers and Writers Program, she lives in Margate, NJ with her husband, Ben, and son, Jake."  She is the daughter of the late Dennis Gomes,
one of the most respected men in Nevada and Atlantic City gaming.

She has written a book entitled Hit Me!: Fighting the Las Vegas Mob by the Numbers.

 

1). Tell the readers about you and your family?
 

"I grew up in the casino business. My dad met my mom while he was investigating the Tropicana for organized crime infiltration and she was a dancer in the Follies Bergere. And, all five Gomes kids have at one time or another held positions in the industry. My brother, Aaron, is currently the Managing Director of Jupiters Casino in Australia and my sister, Gabrielle, is a business development analyst at Revel Casino in Atlantic City. So, you see, casinos are in our blood. I worked at Trump Marina in casino marketing and special events, but now I focus primarily on writing. I have a Master's degree in Journalism and Media Studies from UNLV."

 

2).What is the book about?
 
The book tells the story of how Dennis Gomes - the youngest-ever Chief of the Audit Division for the Nevada Gaming Control Board - helped to erase the mob stain from Nevada's casinos. In Hit Me!, there’s action to fill a dozen Scorsese film – midnight raids, heart-rending showgirl romances, and deadly double-crosses.

3). Does the book deal solely with your dad's career as a gaming regulator ?

"Yes, my dad's gaming career spanned four decades and was too fascinating for one book. There was a natural divide in the story between his work as a casino enforcer and a casino operator, so this book deals exclusively with my dad's work as a casino enforcer."

 

 

 

4). Do you plan to write anything in the future?

 

"Yes, I would love to write a book about my dad's career as a gaming executive. As a gaming operator, the characters my dad encountered were everything from amusing to out-right shocking."

 

 

6). Where will  the book signing be held?

"May 10th At Cuba Libre at the Quarter at the Tropicana."

 

7). What time?

5:30 - 8. Tickets are $35 and include a signed book, appetizers, and a contribution to the Dennis C. Gomes Memorial Scholarship at Stockton College.

 

 

8). What's your favorite restaurant in Atlantic City?

 "I can't pick just one restaurant, it's a tie between Cuba Libre and The Palm in Atlantic City and Sophia's in Margate."

 

9). What cities do you have planned for the book signing?

"Atlantic City. I am in the planning process for a signing in Las Vegas."

10). What is the name of the publishing company and how can it be purchased online?

Lyons Press. Hit Me! Fighting the Las Vegas Mob by the Numbers is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.com. I am very grateful to my co-author Jay Bonansinga, who mentored me through my first experience writing a book; and to our editor at Lyons Press, Keith Wallman, who is extraordinarily talented.

11). Your dad was involved with social media. He was one of my first followers on twitter.

What do you think about how it should be used to market to a younger demographic?

"My dad believed that in order to compete in the casino industry you had to set trends not follow them. He was not the sort of operator that believed you could cut your way to profits. My dad recognized the potential social media had in business early on. In my dad's gaming career, his focus was always on creative marketing, whether it was player development or advertising, and social media was just a natural progression in his operating philosophy.By setting trends, I believed my dad appealed to all demographics."
 

12). What did your dad think about the prospect of online gaming?

"My dad was somewhat neutral on the prospect of online gaming. He thought it would be good for AC if it got there first. However, morally, he believed that having that sort of accessibility from gamblers' homes could create a larger problem."

I want to thank Danielle for taking the time for this interview. You can follow her on Twitter at

                      @DanielleNGomes

Take the time to attend this book signing. Not only is this an interesting read that is based on the movie "Casino" that starred Robert De Niro, it's a

fascinating account from one the most innovative and respected men in Nevada and New Jersey Casino Gaming. Part of the proceeds go to a scholarship at Stockton College.
 

        The following is a video trailer of  Hit Me! Fighting the Mob by the Numbers 

                
               http://youtu.be/olsIMpFcqBI
                                                       
                   Follow me on Twitter at

                           @GamingguyM