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Displaying results 1931 - 1940 of 2016

Transcript of interview with David Rohn by David G. Schwartz, October 20, 2016

Date

2016-10-20

Archival Collection

Description

David Rohn was born in Durango, Colorado and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. He attended Parkland College, the University of Illinois and Wichita State University before starting in the arcade industry in 1980 with the Lemans Family Fun Centers. Rohn entered the gaming industry by assisting with the preopening of the Colorado Grande and eventually became a slot manager at that property. He later moved to Johnny Nolon’s Casino to become assistant general manager. Rohn resumed his slot career at Konocti Vista Casino in California for a short period of time before going to the Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino as a slot floor worker. Rohn currently holds the position of director of slot operations at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, Oregon. The interview with Rohn begins with his discussion of his work in arcades and his eventual work in slots along with those duties at the various properties. Rohn describes what he believes makes a good slot manager, specifically when considering customers and employees. He then provides his philosophy on what he believes customers are looking for in casinos, and he describes his approach to laying out a slot floor. Rohn discusses his relationship and interaction with vendors for getting slot machines to the floor, and he also mentions how the slot department works with other areas of the casino. He goes on to discuss how slot operations have changed over time, particularly through ticket-in ticket-out and the use of free play. He then provides his outlook on what the future of the slot industry will look like, specifically in skill-based gaming and downloadable games. The interview concludes with Rohn’s discussion of his personal gambling as it relates to being a good slot manager, and he provides advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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Transcript of interview with Mike Gausling by David G. Schwartz, December 7, 2016

Date

2016-12-07

Description

Mike Gausling started in the casino industry as a slot floor person at the Aladdin in 1976. After about a year, he moved to the Stardust in a similar capacity and in 1980 went to the the Sundance, later named Fitzgeralds and The D Las Vegas. Gausling later worked at the Holiday Casino where he held supervisory roles and then after about 12 years in those roles, eventually assisted in opening the Stratosphere. He would then move to The Mirage where he would start on the floor again before moving into higher positions at that property. Gausling later went to Green Valley Ranch Resort where he currently holds the position of slot guest service supervisor. Mike Gausling’s interview begins with his discussion of the various roles in slot operations he has held over the past 40 years. After describing the various positions and properties at which he worked, Gausling provides his thoughts on what makes both good and bad slot managers. He then discusses his experiences in interacting with customers and what his philosophy is on what casino guests want in playing slots. Gausling also discusses the differences between local casino properties and those on the Las Vegas Strip, and he describes his work in opening Green Valley Ranch. The interview continues with Gausling’s opinion on the impact of technology and free play as some of the biggest changes in the slot industry, and he later describes how a slot floor should be laid out. He also discusses how he thinks the future of slot machines will look like, particularly with skill-based gaming, and he also mentions his personal gambling preferences. The interview concludes with Gausling’s advice to young people who want to go into slot operations as a career.

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Transcript of interview with Aaron Rosenthal by David G. Schwartz, December 21, 2016

Date

2016-12-21

Description

Aaron Rosenthal grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in finance. He started in the gaming industry at The Mirage in 1997 by going through the Management Associate Program and working as a slot operations analyst. He then moved to the Beau Rivage in 2000 into the role of database marketing manager and eventually into the position of director of slot marketing. In 2002, he became director of loyalty programs on the corporate side of MGM Mirage before going to Treasure Island as vice president of slot operations and marketing in 2003 and eventually back to The Mirage into that same role in 2005. Rosenthal eventually joined Penn National Gaming where he held the positions of vice president of marketing at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in 2009 and assistant general manager of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in 2011. He returned to Las Vegas to become vice president and general manager of Cannery Casino Resorts in 2013 and traveled to Missouri to hold that same position at the Argosy Casino & Hotel in 2014. Rosenthal is currently the vice president and general manager of Tropicana Las Vegas. The interview with Rosenthal begins with his discussion of his start in the slot industry and the various slot operations and marketing roles he held with MGM Mirage/MGM Resorts. This discussion also involves his experiences in dealing with slot vendors and his philosophy on laying out a slot floor. Rosenthal also describes his experiences and duties as assistant general manager and general manager at various properties. He provides his opinion on what makes both good and bad slot managers, his perspective on what he believes customers are looking for in playing slots, how slot management has changed over time, and what the future of slots will hold. The interview concludes with Rosenthal’s discussion on his personal gambling preferences as well as his advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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Transcript of interview with Buddy Frank by David G. Schwartz, January 3, 2017

Date

2017-01-03

Description

Buddy Frank grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. Frank worked in television news before getting into the gaming industry as a public relations manager at Fitzgeralds Reno in 1986 where he would also later become director of marketing and director of slot operations. Frank then moved to the Eldorado Hotel & Casino in 1995 where he became the director of slot operations as well; he would later join the Atlantis Casino Resort in 1998 to become executive director of slot operations. He joined Stateline & Silver Smith Casino Resort in 2000 as executive director of gaming development and eventually went to Viejas Casino in 2002 as vice president of slot operations. Frank joined Pechanga Resort & Casino in 2007 as vice president of slot operations and retired from that position in late 2015. Frank currently serves as a consultant on slot operations. The interview with Buddy Frank begins with a discussion on the progression of his career in slot operations, including the positions he held in both Nevada and California casino properties. Frank discusses topics regarding the utilization of free play as a marketing strategy and the use of Ethernet technology in slot machines. He then describes his philosophy on how to lay out a slot floor with an emphasis on local players before providing an anecdote related to the importance of infrastructure in casinos. Frank then gives his perspective on what makes both a good and bad slot manager, and he later provides input on what customers are looking for in slot play. The interview then moves into how much slots have changed since his start in the business and later transitions into a discussion on millennials, skill-based gaming, and the future of slot machines. The interview concludes with Frank’s advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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Transcript of interview with Saul Wesley by David G. Schwartz, January 13, 2017

Date

2017-01-13

Description

Saul Wesley grew up in Las Vegas and attended the Las Vegas Business College before getting into the gaming industry in an accounting role at the original MGM Grand, even after it became Bally’s. Wesley later worked in slot operations as both a manager and director at the Monte Carlo and is currently vice president of slot operations at Luxor Hotel & Casino. The interview with Wesley begins with a discussion of his background and the distinction between the roles of a director and of a vice president in slot management. He also describes how the slot department works with other departments in the casino, and he mentions specific mentors who have helped him in his career. The interview transitions to a discussion on what makes both a good and bad slot manager, particularly in the context of proper leadership with employees. Wesley then provides his perspectives on what customers are looking for in slots and what makes a good and appealing slot floor. He later describes the process of dealing with vendors and discusses how both free play and ticket-in, ticket-out have changed the slot industry. The interview then shifts to a Wesley’s views on how slot management has changed over the years and how the slot industry, mainly in the sense of technology, will likely continue to change. Wesley also briefly mentions his personal extent of gambling and finalizes the interview with his advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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Transcript of interview with Jay Duarte by David G. Schwartz, January 27, 2017

Date

2017-01-27

Archival Collection

Description

Jay Duarte started in the gaming industry at Casino Data Systems and eventually assisted in the opening of Green Valley Ranch Resort where he eventually went to become a slot technician. Duarte then moved to Thunder Valley Resort as a slot technical manager and held the same role at Green Valley Ranch thereafter. In 2003, Duarte became an assistant technical compliance director with Konami Gaming and then returned to Station Casinos to help open Red Rock Resort in 2005. Duarte then moved to Santa Fe Station in 2007 as slot technical manager, slot operations manager, and eventually director of slot operations. He left there to go to Boulder Station to become director of slot operations in 2008 before returning to Thunder Valley in 2009 to enter the role of interim slot director and later vice president of slot operations. Duarte is currently the assistant general manager at Thunder Valley Resort. The interview with Duarte begins with his description of the various positions and roles he has held in the gaming industry. Duarte then explains how the slot department works with other casino departments and later describes the qualities that make both good and bad slot managers. The interview transitions to a discussion on what customers want in casinos, how slot managers interact with slot vendors, and how slot operations has changed since his start in the business. Duarte also talks about how free play and TITO have changed slots, and he describes his personal preferences of gambling. The interview concludes with Duarte’s advice to young people who want to go into slot operations.

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Transcript of interview with Tony Grasso by Coleen Seifert, February 29 & March 1, 1980

Date

1980-02-29
1980-03-01

Description

On February 29, 1980, Coleen Seifert interviewed Tony Grasso (born 1926 in Brooklyn, New York) about his career in gaming. Grasso first provides details on his background and how he ended up moving to Las Vegas in 1951 before talking about his experience as a dealer in some of the early casinos. He also talks a little about the different roles and games that casino workers deal and how players are invited to visit casinos. The interview concludes with a discussion on gaming unions and Grasso’s future plans. On a date that soon followed the above date, Seifert also interviewed Doug Charles (born 1954 in Brooklyn, New York) about his career in the gaming industry. Charles also talks about his family background, his arrival to Las Vegas in 1957, and the early development of the various gaming properties in Las Vegas. He later goes into detail over some of his experiences as a dealer, his opinions on mob control over gaming, and some of the political and legal issues that have arisen in La

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Transcript of interview with Midge Innis by James Thomas Griffin, May 8, 1976

Date

1976-05-08

Description

On May 8, 1976, James Thomas Griffin interviewed former casino dealer Midge Innis (born September 23rd, 1928 in Neligh, Nebraska) in her apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada about her life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss her occupational history as well as how she met her husband. The interview concludes Innis’ thoughts on environmental and social shifts in Las Vegas.

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Transcript of interview with Daniel Kaminski by Brian Corcoran, March 14, 1978

Date

1978-03-14

Description

On March 14, 1978, Brian Corcoran interviewed Twenty-One dealer Daniel Kaminski (born November 17th, 1947 in New Jersey) about his life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss Kaminski’s occupational history and gambling practices amongst tourists. They then go in depth on the rise of gambling establishments across the United States and the impacts it may have on Las Vegas. The interview concludes with a discussion on the role of dealers in casinos.

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Transcript of interview with Darlene Kelly by David P. Wiser, March 16, 1975

Date

1975-03-16

Description

On March 16, 1975, David P. Wiser interviewed former hair dresser and dealer, Darlene Kelly (born December 1st, 1942 in San Francisco, California) in the collector’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two discuss how Kelly first arrived in Las Vegas, as well as her occupational history. Kelly goes on to describe the Stewart Ranch, as well as the social environment of the forties and fifties in Southern Nevada.

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