So that you understand where I am coming from in this article, it is necessary to give you a little of my resume. When I was a vendor for Bally Gaming and Systems from 1997 to 2003, I was involved in 21 casino openings. At the time, gaming was really starting to expand outside of Nevada and Atlantic City, and everyone was building and buying like crazy. After that I went to the operational side and was involved in opening five more properties – Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, Red Hawk Casino, Revel, Cherokee Coffeyville, and Cherokee Roland.
Why do I tell you about what I’ve personally been involved with? Definitely not to let you in on how cracked I am, but to make a point about human resilience and motivation. I think we all love the ribbon cutting ceremony, the champagne toast, the event that says, “We did it!” It’s that point where all the hard work and effort pays off, and the emotional paycheck is promised, and finally delivered. I know that I do.
If you have ever been on a casino opening, and I know many of you have, one year prior to opening you are working about six days a week and 10 hours a day for about half of the year. After that, it goes to 12 hours a day, six days a week for about three months. The last three months… it’s 16 hours a day, 7 days a week at least. It is crazy, and your team is working those same hours right beside you, just as driven and tired as you are!
READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY JOHN CASH FILIPPE IN THE 2021 WINTER EDITION OF GAMING & LEISURE MAGAZINE.