Take a shot at a new Career

 

This is a unique opportunity for anyone that lives or works in Philadelphia. If you are looking for a new career or one of the many Americans that are open to getting a coronavirus vaccine but have not manage to do so, keep reading.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia is opening the gateway to both scenarios. It is no secret that Rivers is one of the best places in the region to work. The commitment to the staff and patrons is to provide a safe work environment. Hence, the coronavirus clinic.

So where do you fit in?

Rivers is hiring in several departments.

Bryan Meloy,the Food and Beverage Director, has been with Rivers for 10 years. Bryan's career has several highlights that include opening the Wild Wild West in Atlantic City and opening the Rivers Casino Sports Book. He is looking for culinary employees. He would be a great mentor to a food and beverage worker.

Sheri McQueen is a “Day One Leader” joining the Rivers Family in 2010. Sheri was chosen from a group of stellar applicants to be the Table Games Instructor for new dealer candidates. She has taught hundreds of dealers that have went on to supervisory positions with Rivers. The classes are on going and are available on the weekends. A dealer starting hourly rate is approximately 20-23 dollars an hour including tips. This may be a come up for somebody. I forgot to mention the classes are free.

Mike Mastrangelo is our H/R specialist that specializes in matching you up with the position that matches your skill set. If your background involves banking or cashiering, Mike can direct you to a casino cage position. If you have other interest,Mike will find a fit. Rivers wants you to maximize your area of expertise.

So, on Wednesday, May 26 between 2PM and 6PM, Rivers Philadelphia will have a recruiting area at our COVID vaccine clinics “Take a shot at a new Career”.  A Shot, A Career or both. Click this link to see what positions are available.

If you are 12 years old or older (between 12 -17) and are accompanied by a parent or guardian, you can be vaccinated. Free parking is available.

Here is the scheduling link for the vaccine. I look forward to seeing you!

 

Christmas Gifts that a Gambler or Gaming Executive would love

With Christmas just a little more than a week away ,the scramble is on to pick out the perfect gift for the gambler or gaming executive in your life. There is a commonality in those two people. Not only do they share the same environment such as a casino, racetrack or sports book  but they are knowledgeable about the world of risk. They like the excitement and the fanfare of participating or watching games. So any of these gifts that I mention now are stocking stuffers.

The 1st is a scratch off or lottery ticket. The chance of a $1.00 ticket turning into a 6 or 7 figure payout is extremely low. But the recipient will feel like a million dollars until the drawing takes place or the result is revealed.

The 2nd is a smart watch from Apple. This serves no many functions other  than telling time. It can track the gaming executive's steps per day and the gambler withdrawals from the ATM. Either of those individuals will call and thank you on that same watch. The cost is approximately 199.00.

The 3rd is a trip to Las Vegas in 2021. No gambler or gaming executive would want to go right now, but if you plan a trip for the beginning of the 3rd quarter, they would take you up on it. A vaccine should be readily available by then. If the tickets and accommodations are booked no, you could get a good rate especially if the trip is planned mid week. Usher begins his Caesars Palace residency on July 16 2021. Tickets start at 150.00. 

Before I share the last two options here is my gift to you.

The 4th is buying a gift card from Draft Kings. This is an sports betting industry first. The recipient would love it if they live in a state that has sports betting. They could use the card to add funds to an already existing account. The account must be with Draft Kings. I am sure other operators will emulate this. The card will be available in $25 and $50 denominations  in convenience stores like Sheetz, 7 Eleven, Dollar General and Speedway. 

The 5th and final gift option is purchasing a stock from a publicly trading casino or gaming company. You may want to look at a sports betting company for the recipient. If you want to start the process you can open an E Trade account or confer with your broker if you already invest on Wall Street. Why not give a gift that gives your friend or family member more? There are several options that I see as definite buy situations. I will expand on that in a future article.

Follow me on Twitter for NBA and NFL conversation. You can see my videos and photos on Instagram. Reach out professional thru Linkedin. My website is smartresponsiblegaming.com I also write articles for Bettors Insider, where you will receive the most comprehensive gaming, casino and sports betting coverage from an outstanding staff of former writers for the Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News.

GQ, BOYDS and Me

 

Last week, I was able to have one of the best moments in my life. I was asked to interview for a segment of the Conde Nast and GQ installment, "The Breakdown”. The episode was focusing on Pit Managers.  I was pleasantly surprised when contacted. The surprise did not stem from the being asked questions about gaming and casino operations. I have always been a fan of GQ and patronized the magazine for information and visual inspirations for what to wear.  

My business attire comes from Boyds of Philadelphia. The store is one of the best men stores on the East Coast and has been mentioned several times in GQ.

Some of the questions posed to me by the producers were about my background and some of the places that I have worked. The questions about the relationship between the dealers and the players is what I want to share with you. The dealer is really hoping that the player does well so he will receive a tip or gratuity. The players have the impression that the dealers are their adversaries. The dealer makes most of his money from tips, so it is important to build a synergy with the player.

The best and most popular games are Blackjack and Baccarat.  The odds are player friendly and the availability of a game is generally high. While Covid 19 has changed the amount of people allowed to play at one time, the public demand has not diminished.  The producers seemed pleased with my responses. They laughed when I told them I subscribe to the magazine. That 35 minutes was my WOW moment. It was done on Zoom. I dressed up as if I were going to work. They noticed!

I felt like I has received an Academy Award nomination. 

                                 And the winner is

Just to be considered means all the social media posts, the articles and the blog post are being noticed by people and organizations that I have the utmost respect for. Keep watching and get ready for my next big move. Look for me at the G2E.

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G2E 2019 Instagram Review

If a picture could talk it would share hundreds of words. The following photos are from the G2E in Las Vegas. A slide show of them will appear on Instagram. I attend every year and this was my best social experience of all the previous conferences. That is the direction of the gaming industry. Be prepared to ride the wave. What worked 20 years ago is not resonating with the 35 and under crowd. If you are not sure how to do it just ask me. I'll share what I know. Enjoy the photos.

FanDuel CEO Matt King

CNBC's Contessa Brewer 

Aristocrat launches "Crazy Rich Asians" Slot Machine

Sara Sloan

Gamblit Gaming

Gaming Guy and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

Walt Fales and Matt Kenagy -Creators of The Linq Sports Book

SBTech Chairman Gavin Issacs

Diversify and expand the game!

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Sports and Business Wagering This Week

If you are looking for the latest in Sports and Business Wagering, you are at the right place. We plan to give you all of the trends and breaking developments that occurred. You will stay current on the hot topics that involve the operators and the people that like to bet on sports. Any state that is proposing Sports Betting will be highlighted. 

The NFL announced that it is partnering with Caesars Entertainment. Caesars will become the official casino that will have rights to NFL trademarks in the United States and the United Kingdom.  The trademarks can not be used in a Caesars Sports Book. The partnership is for casino gaming only.

The big bet of the week was made at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. Someone put down 300,000 on the Ravens during Wild Card Weekend. That bet was a loser! Four days later ,it was reported that Ocean is looking for a buyer less than a year after a grand opening. Sport Betting alone is not the cure all for a gaming operator. 

In Philly, the opening of the South Philadelphia Turf Club that is owned by Parx Casino, will increase the handle in Pennsylvania. The location is less than a mile from the sports stadium complex that serves as homes for the Phillies. Eagles, Flyers and Sixers. 

Two major players to watch in the casino industry are Kambi and Tangam.  Kambi provides the software and platform for sports betting at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and the aforementioned Parx. Tangam provides data analysis that help make effective decisions for the casino floor. This information is critical and provides revenue generating suggestions in real time.

                                                  Enjoy the NFL games this weekend!

G2E interview with Andre Barnabei - Rivers Casino

Andre' Barnabei serves as the Vice President of Slot Operations for Rivers Casino. Barnabei has more than 19 years of Human Resources and Operations experience in the gaming industry. He has been with Rivers Casino for 10 years and spent the initial 8 as the VP of Human Resources. Barnabei has work for Harrah Philadelphia and Mountaineer Casino in West Virginia. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration & human resource management from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington Pa.

Andre' is attending G2E 2017 and agreed to answer a range of questions.

1). Describe your typical day?  "There is no typical day in the casino as every day bring new and exciting challenges. The only guarantee is that they will be guest interaction,team member interaction and business strategy discussions. The level of detail and involvement range  on a regular basis. I do my best each day to be home in time to be with my family prior to my children going to bed. Once they are settled in, I spend time with my wife, review some e-mail for work and watch TV."

2). What are you looking for when you attend the G2E?  "The next big thing! My goal is to keep our slot floor as refreshed as possible. Electronic Table games will surely be on the list of things to review closely."

3).You attended a pre G2E meeting in Atlantic City. Tell us what goes on prior to the conference in Las Vegas? "Multiple vendors conduct pre-G2E meetings which provide a more in depth personal review of their new software and hardware. It allows me the opportunity to better understand the vendors release schedule for their products but they always keep a few things back for the game show!"

4}. What are the differences between the gaming experience in a resort versus an urban market? 

"A big difference is the quanity regular guests. In an urban market, guests frequent the casino more often. Some of the urban guest have multiple trips per week. With that level of repeat customers. it is very important to find innovative ways to provide excellent guest service and to continue to refresh the gaming floor regularly."

Stay tune for Part two of this interview at the conclusion of the G2E.

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Online Gaming News from Pennsylvania

The Online Gaming talks are continuing in Pennsylvania with both sides presenting bills and testimony before the PA Gaming Oversight Committee in Harrisburg. The bills before the committee

include one by the Chairman Rep  John Payne with Bill 649, and Rep Tina Davis with HB 920.

There is another bill that is Poker only. The two that are mentioned have the best chance of moving forward with bi partisan support.

The opponents of any online gaming legislation are lead by Sands Bethlehem Casino and Vice President of Government Relations, Andy Abboud, stated the position that online gaming would not protect underage children from gaming. He also cited that gaming online would not support the brick and mortar operations. Mr. Abboud was questioned by Rep Davis about mobile apps that are currently used by Sands in Nevada and how that differentiate from what would be considered in Pennsylvania. There was no definitive answer given. She also ask Mr. Abboud about a fine Sands received in Las Vegas for a substantial amount of money. Mr. Abboud was not able to recall the fine and averted the question.

The proponents of the online gaming legislation included Caesars Vice President Michael D. Cohen and Penn Gaming Vice President of I Gaming Chris Sheffield. Cohen cited the success of Caesars Interactive in Nevada and New Jersey while Chris spoke of the integrity and safety nets of the international online gaming community. Sheffield also highlighted the employment opportunities online gaming would add to the state. Cohen and Sheffield jointly agree that the perspective of their testimony would transmit to a proposed online gaming environment in Pennsylvania.

Entertainment at its best

 

The technical side of the process was provided by GLI Vice President of Government Relations, Kevin Mullaly and GeoComply Operations Manager Lindsay Slader. Each gave either a demonstration or explanation of how technology works in other jurisdictions with gaming online. The consensus was that this is something that can be done and regulated with the controls that the Commonwealth would feel are appropriate.

My take is that all businesses that are successful must have an online presence. If it is minimize, then the amount of revenue is dramatically reduced. If I have a competitor in a neighboring state that can provide a service that I can't, I am at a competitive disadvantage. Will that disadvantage be limited to geographic boundaries?  No! If I want to play in New Jersey, I can still drive there. So if the promotions of playing online entice me to do so, I would play less in my home state. If the same promotion was available where I live, I would play there. Note the staggering decline in gaming revenue in Atlantic City was parallel to the increase of money spent wagering in Pennsylvania once tables and slots were approved. There was a direct correlation.

If this online gaming initiative continues thru May and gains traction in the PA State Senate, things could get very interesting. Stay Tuned!

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Poker or Fantasy Sports: Which one is the skill game?

Poker and Fantasy Sports are getting a lot of conversation. Both are receiving more consideration as games of skills and not chance. This interpretation makes both of them socially acceptable and widely popular. I decided to compare the two and give my assessment.

Poker has the statistics to determine probability of what may happen based on what cards you have. Stats in poker are constant and absolute. Psychology has a part to play, but a solid understanding of math and probability will increase your chances of winning. The hand and the chances of winning with it have a percentage that is comparable to the other players in the game. When watching shows like Poker Night in America , you are updated as what each poker player's chances are throughout.

Analytical variables are given to players in fantasy leagues that give them value based on past performance.  During the NFL playoffs, a prognosticator was giving predictions based on analytics related to the point spread. Variables in fantasy are subject to exponents that fall outside of the player's control. Weather, illness  and coaching decisions are things that can alter a fantasy player productivity. Think how many people wagered that Marshawn Lynch would score more than 1 touchdown during Super Bowl 49. We all know how that ended.

Poker is the true skill game of the two. I think that fantasy leagues will have a more diverse following that will include women. Poker is played predominately by males.  While there is a poker community that is established, there is not enough liquidity yet for it become profitable. Delaware Lottery reported a combine total of $600,000 for the year ending 2014. This number included casino and slot play. In 2014, several of the online gaming sites in Nevada and New Jersey shut down. Trump Taj Mahal just closed their poker room in Atlantic City. They anticipate reopening in the summer.

The acknowledgement of the professional leagues will build the support for more fantasy leagues. Fan Duel has commercials that air during ESPN telecasts.  DraftKings has added two more teams to its growing list of partnerships in the NBA . Shortly after announcing a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, DraftKings has struck separate deals with the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors.  There is also a  Daily Fantasy Expo this year in Miami. The Expo will focus on management, technology and marketing for the fantasy sports industry. Since 2006, fantasy sports has grown from USD $1.6 billion industry to a USD $15 billion industry. It's meteoric rise is considered the tip of the iceberg, given the new dynamic of Daily Fantasy Sports.

Imagine That!

The upside for poker is it can be played for low limits in the online gaming world.  Borgata and Caesars  are two of the top poker sites in  New Jersey. 888  is one of the leading software providers. Many states are talking about the legalization of poker. We will see who enters the game in 2015

.

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G2E & Casino Marketing: Where is your next customer?

While you're at the G2E 2014 , take a look at what you see as you walk thru the casinos. Many would notice the restaurants, the customer interactions and the showroom headliner. What you don't see is your next customer. The reason you don't see him is that he or she does not gravitate to the product that 's on the casino floor. The appeal of slots is not there for them.

So when the area that you generate most of your revenue from does not appeal to your new customer what do you do?  You connect with them and find what does. While most of your budget is for player retention and development, you must divert a portion to cultivation. This will enable you to achieve a standard 3% growth in market share annually.

The past 4 years of attending social media and I gaming conferences has given me insight on how this can be done. I'll share more  over the next week.
Learn more about online gaming and how it can shape your future entertainment experiences.

So when they look at their phones, they'll see you.

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Fantasy Sports Betting: Skill or Chance?

 

 

I watched Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel this week.  This segment, the HBO award winning series  goes in depth on whether fantasy sports betting is  gambling or a skill. The way fans play today is not

your father's fantasy sports. 

 

 

The old version was pick a join a league of friends, select players for your team, pay your league fee and play a schedule of games. If you  have the best record at the end of the season, you won the lion share of the money collected. Much different now.

 

Today millions of dollars is wagered daily by people that don't know each but operate under the original fantasy betting premise. When the day's games end the winner gets the money minus a 10%

handling fee. The players today use data and analytical spreadsheets to determine their selections. That why the question of skill versus risk comes in. The comparison of today's player to a day trader on Wall Street come to mind. Yesterday's player would be an avid fan of the sport or a particular athlete. Past performances, weather and time are all considerations when picking a fantasy team today. As of this writing, over 30 million people play fantasy sports. Football and Baseball are the two most popular games.

 

This is still gaming but with sophistication. Formal gaming that includes the lottery and slot machines tend to appeal to a clientele that has less funds and limited game awareness. Informal gaming such as sports betting and fantasy wagering requires more money and greater knowledge of  the game.  Any way you look at it, this is a billion dollar business about to explode. Mobile gaming and the legality of wagering on sports in New Jersey make fantasy a money making reality.

Follow me for more insight during G2E 2014 week.

 

Learn more about online gaming and how it can shape your future entertainment experiences.

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Online Gaming In New Jersey: What's next?

The 1st year of online gaming in New Jersey did not live up to expectations. The bar was set too high and the players were not aware of the product. Here why the 2nd year will be better. The following is a graph of wagering done internationally. New Jersey will ultimately reflect comparable numbers.

Marketing efforts have started now before the cold weather sets in. This gives the casino players a viable option if we have a winter as severe as 2013- 14.  Geo traffic location improvement will increase the number of players that will be allowed to participate. I think the online gaming market will be the beneficiary of a compact agreement between Nevada and New Jersey in 2015.  Gaming as we know it will change.

From this

 

 

 To This

 

 

Meanwhile, the online gambling world continues to thrive, with additional online casinos joining the mix in the coming weeks. Striving to provide a “lifelike casino experience”, these sites offer a plethora of games, betting options, and financing methods designed to keep gamblers in their armchairs. Follow me for more insight during G2E 2014 week.

 

Learn more about online gaming and how it can shape your future entertainment experiences.

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Sports Betting a reality in New Jersey??

I was at work when I got the news. Sports Betting is going to start in New Jersey within 45 days. The Supreme Court may have something to say about this. For now, Governor Christie is looking at a interpretation from a appellate court that would allow sports betting without actual sanctions from the state. Wagers would take place at racetracks and casinos. No bets can be placed on contest involving college teams playing in New Jersey or in state college teams anywhere.  All bets must be made in person.

 

The timing is perfect because of the closings of several casinos this year in Atlantic City.  Something must be done to generate interest in New Jersey. Sports Betting can do that.  Now additional weeks of full rooms and restaurants. Long weekends starting with Thursday Night Football and ending with Monday Night Football. March Madness with collegiate basketball for 3 consecutive weeks. The revenue from sports betting would create a ripple effect on the current offering of casino entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering.

The professional leagues have not issued a comment on this pending development. The NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver did give insight about the possibility of betting on games.  — given Silver's comments last week at the Bloomberg Business Summit in New York.

"It's inevitable that if all these states are broke that there will be legalized sports betting in more states than Nevada and we will ultimately participate in that," Silver said. "If you have gentleman's bet or a small wager on any kind of sports contest, it makes you that much more engaged in it. That's where we're going to see it pay dividends. If people are watching a game and clicking to bet on their smart phones, which is what people are doing in the United Kingdom right now, then it's much more likely you're going to stay tuned for a long time."

In Nevada, you can presently wager on any professional sport on your phone if you have an account with a casino. One of the prominent sports betting sites is William Hill.

You must be within the state to do so. Just another extension of online gaming thru mobile device. New Jersey is coming to the new millennium. Are you?

Learn more about online gaming and how it can shape your future entertainment experiences.

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