Author: Casino Connection Staff

Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady is holding a hiring event this Thursday, August 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the casino’s Event Center. The casino currently has nearly 50 openings in its food & beverage department ranging from entry-level hourly positions to salaried management positions. Join the team that’s been named a Top Workplace by the Times Union for four years in a row!

Rivers’ Human Resources team will be on site interviewing candidates for a variety of positions including cooks, chefs, bartender & cocktail servers, shift managers and more. Both part-time and full-time jobs are available throughout all shifts. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and are encouraged to bring their resumes.

“Working at Rivers Casino is more than just a job, it’s a whole lot of fun and very rewarding,” said Linda Waters, Director of Human Resources at Rivers Casino. “It’s a great place to work and we always celebrate diversity, encourage personal and professional growth, and stay focused on enriching the lives of our team and their families.”

Full time positions at Rivers Casino include paid time off, medical/dental/vision plans, a 401(k) plan with company match, and more. All positions also offer complimentary shuttle bus service from the local CDTA blue line stop.

For more information about career opportunities at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, please visit riverscasino.com/schenectady/careers.

They’re back.

Clark County has re-imposed a mask mandate but only for employees of indoor businesses in the county, including all casinos. Just days before, the Westgate Hotel-Casino required its employees to mask up again whether they are vaccinated, part of the efforts to keep guests and staff safe as the Delta variant explodes.

Las Vegas Sands changed its mask policy at that time as well.

“In response to new recommendations from the Southern Nevada Health District, we now require that all team members (vaccinated or not) wear company-issued face masks while working in indoor public spaces, and in indoor areas where people congregate,” Sands said in a statement. “Complimentary face masks are available to our guests at front desks, grazie desks, and concierge desks.”

Las Vegas Sands spokesman Keith Salwoski said in an email Monday that all employees of the Venetian, Palazzo, and Sands Expo—vaccinated or not—be required to “wear company-issued face masks while working in indoor public spaces, and in indoor areas where people congregate. In addition, we have revised our signs posted at public entrances to share this new SNHD recommendation.”

The problem is the low rate of vaccinations for Nevada residents, less than 50 percent.

The Culinary Union has undertaken a campaign to convince members to get vaccinated as almost all admissions to hospitals for Covid-19 are from the unvaccinated population.

Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV, said a return to masks make sense but that doesn’t make the option any easier for locals and tourists.

“I would recommend a middle-of-the-road approach where employees return to wearing masks, masks are available for customers, in the guest rooms and at the entrance, and consider a return to more visible cleaning standards,” she said.

Josh Swissman, founding partner of the Las Vegas-based Strategy Organization, like so many others trumpeted the need for vaccination as a way to slow down the infection spread and thus the need for restarting masks.

“The most important message that should be shouted from the rooftops is that everyone who hasn’t gotten vaccinated yet should do that,” he said.

Vaccination remains the best defense, and Nevada businesses including the resorts are working awfully hard to get their employees vaccinated, Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine said. “We’re going to comply with it,” said Valentine, who leads the association made up of large casino resorts. “We think it’s an important step.”

The Clark County Commission made it easier by voting to make employers require workers to wear masks in indoor public spaces like stores, malls and clubs, and post signs citing local health district advice that everyone vaccinated or not should wear face coverings.

“We’ve got to do something,” Commissioner Jim Gibson said as he raised the specter of crowded hospitals and canceled trade shows. “We have already been through a shutdown and a start-up. We cannot afford to have major conventions choose to go elsewhere.”

A hastily called and sometimes contentious emergency meeting drew a big audience and about 50 speakers—almost all opposed to mask requirements, vaccinations and business closures and distancing.

The commission voted to require locations with more than 250 people submit plans about possible next steps to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The vote made the mask rule effective July 22 with a follow up review on August 17.

Some indicated they won’t comply.

On May 13, Governor Steve Sisolak, following CDC guidelines, dropped the requirement for vaccinated people to wear face coverings in Nevada. Unvaccinated people were still advised to wear masks.

In the two months since then, the Delta variant has attacked Nevada.

“The Delta variant has changed the game,” said Brian Labus, a longtime Southern Nevada Health District epidemiologist who now teaches public health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He said in an interview the debate about masks re-emerged “because we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.”

Labus has advised the governor on pandemic issues and has called for people to get vaccinated. He acknowledged data shows that most people now contracting the virus are not vaccinated, according to the Associated Press.

The number of new cases of Covid-19 reported July 20 in Nevada exceeded 1,000. State vaccination rates have stalled. Less than half are fully vaccinated. The state hit a seven-day average of 708 cases on July 19, numbers not seen since early February, said the Nevada Independent.

“You don’t want to alienate customers,” Belarmino said. “It’s hard to tell people again they’re going back to restrictions. But I think most people would rather wear a mask than not be able to leave home.”

The Gaming Control Board will enforce the mandate at gaming locations.

The death of billionaire Sheldon Adelson has triggered sea change at the company he founded, Las Vegas Sands. Adelson died in January, at the age of 87, and the changes began almost immediately when the company announced the sale of its Las Vegas properties, the Venetian, Palazzo and Sands Expo Center to New York-based Apollo, the former owner of Caesars Entertainment, and the REIT VICI Properties. While that sale occurred in March 2020, Adelson had previously said the sale of those properties was being considered.

Last week, the company backed two amendments in Florida that would permit the expansion of gaming in the northern part of the state, where it has previously been prohibited. Both amendments seem to be designed to avoid conflicts with the Seminole tribe, which last month signed a compact with the state of Florida guaranteed billions of dollars to the state in exchange for several more south Florida casinos and complete control of sports betting within the state.

Another amendment proposed by FanDuel and DraftKings directly challenges that sports betting monopoly, and the Seminoles are sure to strongly oppose it. Not so for the northern Florida expansion.

The two amendments to expand gaming in Florida would permit the existing card rooms to operate the facilities as long as they were, according to one bill, “more than 130 miles on a straight line from all tribal facilities.” The second bill shortens the straight line to 100 miles. The licensees would be required to invest either $250 million or $500 million to offer full-service casino resorts, including slots and tables, hotels, food and beverage, and meetings and convention facilities.

Gary Bitner, spokesperson for the Seminoles, said the tribe has no issue with the amendments.

“Unlike the proposed sports betting ballot initiative, neither of these initiatives would interfere with the new gaming compact, nor would they impact the $2.5 billion revenue-sharing guarantee for the state of Florida over the compact’s first five years,’’ he said.

But the biggest change was yet to come. For years, Adelson was among the most vociferous opponents of online gambling. He once declared he was “willing to spend whatever it takes” to stop the expansion of the industry. In 2014, Adelson created the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling with the sole purpose of restoring the federal ban on internet betting.

And last week, with the establishment of a digital gaming investment team, the Sands Corp. made its first foray into the virtual space.

The company announced plans to become a strategic investor in business-to-business digital gaming technologies. The new team will be led by Davis Catlin, who spent 14 years with Sands Capital Management in Arlington, Virginia (no relations to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.).

According to Sands Chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein, the company is “determined to grow its leadership position within the industry and is committed to doing that through strategic steps we think best position the company for future growth. Digital gaming and other related offerings are still very much in the early stages of development, and we believe there is an outstanding opportunity for us to invest in the technologies being developed.”

He added that the Sands’ “platform, expertise and financial resources, together with the investment team led by Davis, will provide meaningful opportunities to … generate significant long-term benefits for the company. And just as our integrated resorts were not built in a day, by being patient and investing for the long-term, we believe these investments in digital gaming technology will deliver significant returns for the company and its shareholders.”

Beyond that, details of the company’s plans are scant. But with Adelson’s longstanding opposition to online gaming, the company, with mega-resorts in Macau and Singapore, is entering unexplored territory. Bernstein Research noted, “Getting in at this juncture would be fraught with risk. A go-it-alone strategy in today’s dynamic market would be difficult and acquiring an existing sports betting/iGaming operator would be very expensive based on current valuations.”

But Sands is certainly flush, having sold its Las Vegas operations in March for $6.25 billion. The firm said at the time that it was “focused on reinvestment in Asia and high-growth opportunities in new markets,” possibly including Texas, Florida and New York City.

Goldstein first hinted the company would go online during an earnings call in January, shortly after Adelson’s death. “I have very strong thoughts about (online gaming),” he said at the time. “We are exploring it and if we have something concrete to say we will tell you. Right now it’s simply exploratory.”

At a June conference, Goldstein acknowledged the company’s commitment to “being in that space… not just in the U.S,” but possibly in Canada, Europe or South America.

According to the Nevada Independent, there’s been talk that the company will buy a major sports betting or online gaming provider. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming analyst Chris Grove debunked the speculation, saying last week’s announcement “definitely leans more in the direction of a (business-to-business)-focused company versus a company with a heavy direct-to-consumer angle.

“I think there’s definitely a world where Sands makes a series of smaller bets in younger companies and builds something new from that foundation,” Grove said, “versus trying to accomplish their goals with a single splashy acquisition.”

Back in April, Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli said the company is taking a prudent path to online gaming. “Given it still remains an embryonic market, Las Vegas Sands is taking a smart and targeted approach, whereby they could leverage their balance sheet to pursue either (mergers and acquisitions) or organic growth opportunities within the U.S. or abroad,” he said.

Back in Florida, the three proposed constitutional amendments have produced a flood of lobbying dollars.

In response to the new gaming compact signed by Seminole Tribe officials and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the introduction of the proposed amendments, three out-of-state gaming giants made $62 million in political contributions to influence the future of sports betting and casino gambling in Florida.

Among other contributions, FanDuel and DraftKings each gave $10 million to Florida Education Champions, a PAC supporting a 2022 ballot initiative asking voters to authorize online sports betting at all Florida parimutuels, professional sports stadiums and anywhere else in the state. Florida Education Champions is marketing its constitutional amendment campaign by pledging to dedicate sports betting tax revenue to education.

The third out-of-town player is Las Vegas Sands, which has long been trying to enter the Florida gaming market. Las Vegas Sands is controlled by Miriam Adelson, the wife of the company’s late founder and CEO, Sheldon Adelson. In March, the company sold its Las Vegas properties and announced its plans to expand into other states.

Observers said Sands may be interested in operating a Florida casino either by partnering with or buying out an existing permit holder.

The Genting Group also is said to be interested in the Doral resort; or a casino in Miami where the company purchased the former Miami Herald site in 2011, hoping to open a waterfront casino resort.

The new Seminole compact does allow an existing license to be transferred. But to obtain a license to offer sports betting or casino games at those venues, Adelson would need statewide approval from voters under Amendment 3.

“The compact has opened the floodgates to everybody getting everything now,” said John Sowinski, director of No Casinos, the group that managed the 2018 Amendment 3 campaign.

Gearing up for ballot issues in 2022, lobbyist Nick Iarossi, who has represented Las Vegas Sands, said Sands formed Florida Voters in Charge and gave it $17 million to collect signatures as soon as they decide what their gambling expansion proposal will look like. Iarossi said, “There’s ongoing talks but there are multiple versions of the language that can be filed.”

Voters In Charge spokesperson Sarah Bascom added, “We are contemplating various options with no intention to violate the recently passed compact/revenue sharing agreement. Our initial donor, the Las Vegas Sands Corp., has long been interested in Florida and we look forward to sharing more about the Florida Voters in Charge effort in the coming weeks and months.”

However, getting an issue on the ballot in time for the 2022 elections will be a huge task. Florida law prohibits petition companies from paying signature gatherers per signature. There are a limited number of companies that perform signature-gathering work. And because of the record turnout in the 2020 elections, more signatures will be needed by the February deadline.

The 30-year, $500 million-a-year gaming compact signed by the Seminole Tribe and the governor would allow voters to approve additional casinos in Florida. It states as long as a new casino is 100 miles from any of the tribe’s casinos and has the tribe’s consent, it would not violate the compact. In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, a new casino could not be located within 15 miles of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood.

The Seminole Tribe naturally wants to defend the new 30-year, $500 million-a-year gaming compact and have some influence over the 2022 ballot, so it contributed $10 million to the PAC Voters in Control Inc. The U.S. Department of the Interior still must approve the new compact.

Tribal spokesman Bitner said the tribe strongly opposes the constitutional amendment proposed by FanDuel and DraftKings, which would legalize sports betting outside of the tribe’s agreement with the state. He said, “This is millions of out-of-state corporate dollars to try and manipulate the people of Florida, who are smarter than that. They think they can buy their way into the state. Our team intends to use our Florida dollars to protect the interests of the people of Florida.”

If the FanDuel-DraftKings initiative gets enough signatures and appears on the 2022 ballot, and gets 60 percent of voter approval, it would derail the compact provision that allows the tribe to enter into agreements with existing parimutuels to operate sports betting at their facilities by having all transactions go through the tribe’s servers.

Besides giving the tribe exclusivity to operate online sportsbooks in Florida for the next 30 years, the compact also would pave the way for a huge expansion of the Seminoles’ gaming empire. The tribe would be allowed to operate craps and roulette at all of its seven casinos and to build three more casinos on existing tribal property east of Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County.

In return, the tribe would give the state $500 million a year in revenue-sharing payments. However, if the sports betting component is ruled unconstitutional by the courts or rejected by federal regulators, or if a constitutional amendment is passed authorizing sports betting outside of a tribal server, the Seminole Tribe would reduce its annual payments to the state by $100 million.

The sports betting provision of the Seminole compact is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by the Havenick family’s West Flagler Associates, owner of Magic City Casino in Miami. The lawsuit claims the sports betting language in the compact is unconstitutional. The Havenicks argue the agreement authorizing sports betting outside of tribal lands in Florida is in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

In an effort to protect its interests, West Flagler Associates created its own political committee, People Against Regulatory Legislation Addressing You. Chairman Isadore “Izzy” Havenick, vice president for public affairs, said West Flagler Associates gave the PAC $15 million.

“The committee was formed in order to make sure our family business and other multi-generational family businesses are not excluded from any conversations that could cannibalize us. We know there are national companies out there that see the potential of our great state, and we believe we should all work together to give the best product to the people of Florida in an inclusionary fashion,” Havenick said.

The multi-million political contributions from FanDuel, DraftKings, Las Vegas Sands and West Flagler Associates represent the largest contributions made so far to the Florida 2022 election cycle, according to campaign finance records.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel has partnered with Nik Wallenda, world renowned daredevil of the legendary performing family, the Great Wallendas to celebrate the Grand Opening of the property’s major expansion, which features a 203-room hotel tower plus new high limit gaming space, a new location for the property’s signature Nibi restaurant, and new Lobby Bar. Wallenda will walk a high wire from FireKeepers’ existing tower to the new tower, a span of more than 400 feet—nearly 200 feet above ground.

This is an iconic event for the casino, its tribal owners, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, the city of Battle Creek and the State of Michigan. Spectators are encouraged to attend this free event. FireKeepers will begin the opening ceremonies at 5 pm on August 16, with Nik Wallenda’s walk at approximately 5:45 pm. Details for remote viewing will be announced via FireKeepers website and social media channels soon.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nik Wallenda to FireKeepers, and can think of no better way to signify our moving forward than with his aerial adventure across our towers,” state FireKeepers Casino Hotel CEO Kathy George. “We look forward to welcoming guests to watch this awesome feat, and to experience the new expansion!”

With 11 Guinness World Records and a list of never before seen death defying feats, Nik Wallenda has written his name in history as truly the “King of the High Wire”. Wallenda has performed live in every state in the USA and all over the world. He has garnered the support from tens of millions of live viewers worldwide in network television specials on ABC, The Discovery Channel and others. From being the first person to cross the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and Times Square, to walking blindfolded between two towers in Chicago, Wallenda’s latest television special on ABC was a walk over an active volcano in Nicaragua.

Wallenda personifies the Wallenda Family legacy of “Never Giving Up” and has time and time again proven that “Fear is a Liar.” Wallenda’s latest initiative is his book, Facing Fear focuses on how most of us will never walk a tightrope, but we face things that scare us every day. Whether putting ourselves out there socially or seeking a dream job, all of us allow anxieties and fears to hold us back. Facing Fear is a reader-centric memoir, interweaving parts of Wallenda’s personal story of a tragic 2017 accident and how he conquered his fear with practical advice for readers to overcome whatever fears are holding them back.

The new eight-story hotel was designed by JCJ Architecture, of Hartford Conn., and constructed by Clark Construction Co. of Lansing, Mich., in alignment with FireKeepers’ existing standards of excellence, as the current hotel has been designated a AAA Four Diamond award winner for the past five consecutive years. The welcoming 39,000 square foot first level will deliver a vibrant new lobby bar, front desk and the second Gapi Coffee and Sweets location. FireKeepers signature restaurant, Nibi, one of Michigan’s finest dining experiences, will enjoy a new location with seating for approximately 125, expanded wine storage and presentation, and a private dining area for up to 20, perfect for special parties or small business meetings. There will be new luxurious High Limit Gaming sections for slots and table games, plus a new bar and VIP lounge for select Red Hot Rewards Club members.

A federal judge July 20 ordered Station Casinos to negotiate a contract with a culinary union that includes more than 1,350 employees of its Red Rock Casino. This despite the fact that the employees voted down the union in an election in December 2019.

The judge agreed with the regional National Labor Relations Board that Station’s announcement of new incentives and benefits was timed to influence the election to determine if the employees would unionize under the Culinary and Bartenders Union. The judge called the casino company’s actions a “hallmark violation” of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

The order for Station Casinos to negotiate with the union was part of an injunction that the United States District Court ordered in a case where the NLRB seeks to prove that the company violated federal labor law in several instances when several days before the election it announced that it would be making an HMO health plan premium-free and deductible-free while also increasing company contributions toward employees’ 401(k) accounts.

In the injunction the judge also ordered Red Rock to cease interrogating employees about union support, to stop promising employees increased wages or benefits to discourage them from supporting the union, changing employees’ schedules or decreasing seniority because of their support for the union—among other things. The injunction ordered Red Rock to “cease and desist from engaging in unfair labor practices, in English and Spanish, to all employees, supervisors, managers, and executives.”

Geoconda Argüello-Kline, secretary-treasurer for the culinary union, commented, “We are pleased with the federal court’s extraordinary and vindicating ruling in favor of Red Rock Casino workers. We commend Red Rock Casino workers for their courage and resilience in the face of the massive anti-union campaign that Station Casinos waged against their own employees and we look forward to negotiating and winning a union contract to protect workers.”

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort near Flagstaff, Arizona reopened Monday, July 12 after being shut down for 15 months due to Covid-19. The ban on non-residents of the Navajo Nation also was lifted. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Brian Parrish said a grand reopening event is planned for August 1 at all four Navajo casino resorts, which closed on March 17, 2020.

Parrish stated, “It’s been 15 months. We’re very excited about this opportunity to reconnect with all of our patrons.” The closure laid off 1,100 employees at Twin Arrows, he added.

Patrons’ temperatures are being checked and masks are required inside the casinos. Visitors also must present a government-issued I.D., such as a driver’s license, before they may enter the casinos. In addition, a curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice.

Parrish said 8 percent of all casino employees have been vaccinated.

“We’re continuing to screen all of our patrons, all of our team members. We’re conducting tests of all of our team members every two weeks. And we’re also educating our team about the importance of getting vaccinated,” Parrish said.

Twin Arrows casino and hotel are operating at 50 percent capacity, Parrish said, with limited hours and social distancing. The buffet, arcade, bingo, pool, fitness center and valet service will remain closed. In addition, he said Navajo New Mexico casinos, including Fire Rock Casino in Church Rock, Northern Edge Casino in Farmington and Flowing Water Casino in Shiprock, all reopened with 25 percent occupancy.

“We’re starting off with 50 percent capacity and we’re gonna stick with that until the nation transitions from the yellow stage to the green stage,” Parrish said.

Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer stated, “Reopening ensures that our Navajo people have jobs to sustain the livelihood of their families and provides income for the entire nation.”

The Illinois Gaming Board recently approved a series of key businesses, executives, managers and owners who will participate in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford project.

Approvals went to Hard Rock International Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen, Hard Rock Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas and Dotty’s gambling café chain owner Dan Fischer, the casino’s chief investor.

Last month, the gaming board approved a temporary casino at the former Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center. The $8.8 million, 37,790-square-foot temporary location is expected to be completed within 90 to 120 days and offer 620 slot machines, two restaurants and a retail area. It will operate for two years while the permanent $311 million Hard rock Casino Rockford is built at the former Clock Tower Resort location. That project is awaiting additional permissions.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said an extraordinary amount of “work, time and energy” has been going on behind the scenes to bring the casino project to this point. Lucas stated, “This is a giant step forward. We’re grateful to the state of Illinois and the Illinois Gaming Board for their support. We’re excited to get this project up and running beginning with the construction of the temporary casino. It won’t be long before we need people to join our team and we plan to share more details on how the community can participate through employment and supplier roles in the days and weeks ahead.”

At the recent opening of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot promoted her city and its eagerness to host a casino.

“For interested owners and operators, our city truly provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a casino and entertainment district in a major American city,” Lightfoot said. “I’m looking forward to reviewing the proposals that come in.”

In 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation allowing sports betting statewide and casinos in six locations, including downtown Chicago. The city issued its request for proposals in late and will close applications next month. Finalists are expected to be announced next year. The winning bidder can select its casino location, subject to city approval.

Lightfoot said Rush Street Gaming, which has a substantial stake in Rivers Casinos in Des Plaines, is among the applicants. But she added, “This RFP is wide open. There are no hometown favorites. We want to make sure we get the best-in-class opportunities for anyone across the country who understands the value of being in a city like Chicago.” The downtown casino is expected by open by 2025.

Rivers Casino generates more gaming revenue than any of the other nine casinos in Illinois. In June, it brought it more than half of the $21.4 million in gaming taxes produced by the state’s casinos, according to Illinois Gaming Board figures. For the year, it has produced nearly $200 million in adjusted gross revenue and more than $50 million in state and local taxes.

Lightfoot said she’d like the casino to be part of an integrated casino resort, meaning, “a world-class entertainment district, anchored by a casino but also providing other amenities so that our tourists and residents can take advantage of a first-class gaming experience.”

Lightfoot noted her office is a friend of the gambling industry. “So an operator who comes to invest in Chicago is going to have a partner in our government that is going to provide support to uplift the surrounding community and environment. So not only will you have a great business opportunity, you’re going to find a ready, willing and able workforce that is going to be supported by this administration.”

Lightfoot said Chicago has been studying other areas to identify best practices that will make the city a top choice of potential bidders. She said, “We’re watching what happens in cities like Las Vegas and other gaming centers around the world, and seeing how these other centers have adapted to a post-pandemic economy and realities. And we are well poised to take advantage of the best practices that we have seen across the country and, truly, across the world.”

Lightfoot also noted the new casino project will create thousands of jobs and produce hundreds of billions in new gaming revenue for both the city and state, money that Chicagoans would have spent at northwest Indiana casinos. She added the project must integrate well with the existing community, meet high architectural standards and earn LEED certification.

“While much work remains, this project is an important step in the right direction, as it will not only generate and expand our communities’ access to social-economic opportunities but ensure the prosperity of our city for years to come. It will also serve as an example to executives of legislatures around the country that highlights their ability and responsibility to invest in our cities and the well-being of our residents,” Lightfoot stated.