Sports Webinar: Become Better at Betting

It took approximately 6 weeks but here it is. Smart Responsible Gaming launched the website with the concept of doing a sports betting webinar. The timing is perfect because 3 of the 4 professional leagues are about to resume play. Most of the public had to find other ways of coping with out sports. 

We no longer have to watch Netflix, binge watch an entire television series that we missed or replays of games played earlier in the season.

Live sports will mean we can watch our favorite past times on a consistent basis. Included in that group are the millions pf people that bet on the games. The lack of action left a void for so many adults. It is our wish that if you are going to watch the game and bet on it, that you do it more effectively.

Our webinar will facilitate that for you. You will learn 3 principles that will improve your wagering strategy. If you are a novice, you will learn the terminology associated with sports betting. Our webinar will appeal to women. Women make up approximately 20% of the sports betting population.

We think that is a growth marketing opportunity. 

The date of the webinar is July 29th at 11:00 AM. The cost is $30.  This information will make you a smarter bettor that looks at statistics and analytics. It will require you to rely less on emotional attachments and more on probability. If you are prepared to do that and maintain more of your money as you bet on games  then this is how you sign up.

                                                         Webinar Registration

                              GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800 GAMBLER
                                         MUST BE OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE

PIVOT (2)

Lebron about to pivot

This is the second part of my PIVOT post on Smart Responsible Gaming.  The use of the term pivot in basketball is to help a player avoid a defender and find an opening on the court to take a shot, make a pass or drive to the basket. It opens up the court to you. You are that player and the world is your court.

The next letter in the acronym is O.

O is for optimistic about what you are trying to do. Don't expect the road to be easy. But never

become downtrodden or thinking you should give up. If not today then tomorrow. If not this week

then the next.

T is for tenacity in your pursuits. You refuse to be easily dispelled. Denzel Washington gave a motivational speech and stated "Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship."  "Without commitment you will never start and without consistently you will never finish." He ended by saying, "see you at work."

                                       
                                                         SEE YOU AT WORK!

                                              Part one of PIVOT can be read here.

PIVOT

This is my latest series of post that will be a part of Smart Responsible Gaming.

As a percentage of the gaming, casino and hotel industry returns to work, many 

co-workers are still on furlough or in between job opportunities. Since we 

are all in this together, this series is to help make this transition a successful one.

That is why I have chosen the acronym PIVOT in the form of initialism. I will 

share the 1st three letters today. 

The P is for planning what your next move will be. First, find out when the next 

wave of call backs to your current employer are projected for. Then you can 

determine how long you may have to wait. You can gauge the length of your 

unemployment benefits and and take advantage of any training module that may 

be available to you.

The I is for intelligently mapping out your strategize. Reach out to other members of 

your professional network and let them know that you are looking for opportunities. 

Update your resume. Have 2 copies available. One is for the type of job that you had

previously. The second will be tailored to industries that are hiring your skill set. 

Highlight the characteristics that make you appealing to a recruiter. Be prepared to have 

a phone interview or a virtual meeting via Zoom.

The V is for value you place on your self worth. You must decide how much you should be 

compensated for what you can do. Then negotiate with yourself and determine what percentage

 you could accept from any employer. Keep in mind this is a competitive job market.

I will complete the PIVOT acronym in my next blog post.

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Smart Responsible Gaming

Responsible Gaming never felt so good!

I want to announce the unveiling of our website, Smart Responsible Gaming.com. From the end of March, I have had time to think about what would be useful to people during a pandemic and serve an audience that actively consumes gaming and sports.

I wanted to include some of the popular aspects that sports aficionados could appreciate. They include Esports, Sports Betting and Casinos. There are sections that give nutritional and fitness information.Videos are included.

There is a Twitter section that highlights GTLHottopics. This is a segment that covers the trending topics in the sports betting and sports business world. You can see all of the tweets that come from Smart Responsible Gaming. The social media links to Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are prominently featured as well. 

There is a blog series that is devoted to helping anyone navigate a return to work after Covid-19.If you are looking for specialist advice on a subject related to sports and gaming, you can use the email, info@smartresponsiblegaming.com. This is in the event that your question is not covered by the information on the website.

I am proud of what we were able to accomplish during this pandemic. It has heighten my creativity. I hope you like it and check back periodically for updates. The next step on the journey is...

                                                               Can you say Webinar!😊😊

10 years! That went fast..

Just saw my LinkedIn notification that this month marks 10 years at Rivers Casino Philadelphia / SugarHouse Casino. Wow! That went so fast. I started to reflect on the many people that I worked with over that period. Most of them I got along with and enjoyed. There were a few that I could have done things differently with and some that just did not work out well professionally. I am glad for the experience  of all of them. I wish anyone that I came in contact with during the 10 years the utmost success in where you are now and in future endeavors.

So as I continued to reflect over the decade on Delaware Ave, four faces keep going across my mind.

                        

                  I want to share the next few sentences talking about each of them.

Leigh Whitaker

First is Leigh Whitaker. Leigh helped me get in the company. She advised me on things to do professionally and made me smarter. Leigh also embraced my attending gaming sessions in Harrisburg where I watched her artfully represent our organization. She was my ear when I was planning my next step.

Rosemarie Cook

Second is Rosemarie Cook. Rose hired me in the table games department as a Pit Manager. I was her ninth hire. She gave what I called her "state of the union address" to our team every year by telling us how we were doing and the plans for the coming year. She would break it down quarter by quarter. She supported my efforts with my blog and encourage my endeavors.She gave me the impetus to go to universities and give presentations. 

Wendy Hamilton

Third is Wendy Hamilton. Wendy paid me the highest compliment a GM can pay to an employee that she did not interact with regularly. She said "You are always thinking". That showed she was noticing what I brought to our company. When Wendy developed a task force that changed the public perception of our organization, she selected me to be a part of it. That increase my visibility and led to me representing  the company at civil and corporate events. 

Greg Carlin

Last is Greg Carlin. Greg took notice of me when I flew to Chicago for a meeting with Rush Street Interactive. From that point on we would engaged at different gaming conferences in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Greg has made it a point to hear what I think and has included me in meetings and gatherings that were normally director level and above. Highly appreciative that Greg went that far for me. That allowed me to developed a relationship with the members of our prestigious executive team, I am honored by that. This prepared me to enhance my strategic thinking.

Without these four people, my 10 years would not be the best and longest tenure gaming job I have held. I am looking forward to what is ahead and thankful for the role each of you has played.

                                                                 WOO HOO !

Monday Motivation: Build A Better You

If you read last week's post, you are ready now to navigate back into the workforce. If you need to catch up with us  read here. In order to prepare effectively you must think about what you bring to the table. Oprah Winfrey is quoted as saying "When you bring excellence to a room. they will find you a seat." I will share two points we can add that will make us appealing to a new opportunity or invaluable to the employer that furlough you.

If you are looking for a new job situation, be prepared to practice "The Power of Nunchi”. This is a book written by Euny Hong. The word "nunchi translates into eye measure and listening skills. This can be incorporated into a job interview. It enables you to make assessments about a business or social situation quickly. Your chances of success increase when you can read a room, make connections, and come across as well informed.

The listening aspect of Nunchi is utilize by hearing what the interviewer wants from you and being able to convey that you can deliver. Be prepared to offer a solution in case you are ask a hypothetical question. Do some research that goes beyond the job posting that got you in the room.

If you are navigating a return to a place or industry of prior employment, bring flexibility back with you. The thought of "I 've been doing this for 5,10 years or longer and I know what I am doing" may have been acceptable in March. Now factor in social distancing, wearing a mask and the other possibilities that await you. Are you ready? A limited capacity is projected initially in hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues. The measure of flexibility may extend to you. Ask yourself how flexible you can be if you could return next week. That would give you time to mentally prepare. An NFL coach can motivate an entire 53-man roster to get ready for a game in 6 days. We only have to motivate ourselves.

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Monday Motivation: Plan B

In last week's Monday Motivation, we covered a blueprint for a to return to work with safety, health, and social distancing policies in place. If you missed it here is the link. The next step for most of us will be how we go from being at home all day to working again. This is not a given or an automatic situation. Most operations are opening at less than 60% of pre COVID levels. This poses the thought that we may need a plan "B". This is if we were employed by an operator that is conservatively reopening. 

The plan "B" must start with an evaluation of your skill set and the value you bring to your team. If your self-evaluation does not grade out high, then you must take steps to improve it. You may have to apply at other companies that are in your field or have a demand for your talent. This is the 1st step of Plan B.

Since we are entering the "New Normal", we must become comfortable with the business aspects of virtual interaction. No one will be likely to interview you in person. So, you must be prepared to log into a link or a Zoom panel that will ask questions of you. This may be foreign to most of us, but we have the luxury of time to master it. 

Have the person that you are in quarantine with do a role play with you. You should dress as if you were going to meet an employer in an office setting. Then download the Zoom App. Once you are satisfied with your responses in the role play, have another person contact you on Zoom and conduct a 10-minute interview. The person you are quarantine with can critique it. Make sure you have a well-lit background and optimum camera angle. In order to make it fun as well as productive, everyone can switch roles.

Then you look at who is hiring and what their needs are. If your resume can convey that you are an asset, then send it to their H/R department. Follow up on your letter or email within 7 business days. If there is a mutual interest you can suggest the virtual interaction. Your innovation will make you stand out from your peers. Nothing over the top but allow your personality to come out during the exchange. Warmth always works!

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