Ggb Magazine Podcast

Pavilion Payments was recently rebranded and CEO Christopher Justice explains the complicated process of picking a new name for the company that he believes to be the solution for cashless transactions in the casino industry. Justice has a long career in payments, and he explains why Pavilion has achieved success in the industry and why he thinks the cashless revolution is ready to take hold in the gaming business. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros at the Pavilion Payments offices in Las Vegas in December.

Tom O’Brien has a long history in the casino industry. Starting as a low-level slot employee at a casino in Atlantic City, he moved to the supplier side a few years later and today has reached the pinnacle as president of Aristocrat’s Americas and EMEA regions. He has been with the company as it introduced the phenomenally successful Buffalo series, Lightning Link and all the offshoots. With a background in sales, O’Brien credits the development teams for the products and his colleagues in sales for the success of Aristocrat. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros at the Aristocrat offices in Las Vegas in December.

Today's GGB Podcast features Dean Ehrlich, executive vice president and games business leader for slot manufacturer Everi Holdings, who summarizes Everi's product plan for 2024, as well as the rollout of several new cabinets, for GGB Editor Frank Legato.

Today's GGB Podcast features Derik Mooberry, the slot supply veteran who is CEO of Zitro USA. He discusses his progress in spreading content of the Barcelona-based supplier to U.S. markets with GGB Editor Frank Legato.

If seven seasons of Mad Men didn’t make it clear enough, brand power is everything, and few ad firms have had a bigger impact on the gaming industry than Good Giant, led by CEO Rich Sullivan. The result of a 2022 merger between Foundry and Red Square, Good Giant operates offices in Nevada, Oklahoma, Illinois and Alabama, with a growing portfolio that spans from Hard Rock to Snickers. Sullivan spoke with GGB Managing Editor Jess Marquez via Zoom in January.

As we move into 2024, the business of gaming is evolving like never before, and few figures in the industry have a better understanding of these nuances than Rick Arpin (l.), managing director of KPMG’s Las Vegas office.  In today’s world, gaming is big business, and that inevitably means that KPMG is not far behind. As managing director of the firm’s Las Vegas office, Rick Arpin is one of the leading experts and consultants in the industry, and this is certainly an exciting time to get a sense of where we’ve been and where we could be headed.  He spoke with GGB Managing Editor Jess Marquez via Zoom in December. 

Jim Rafferty spent many years as a marketing executive for Boyd Gaming and several other gaming companies. But he wanted to return to his home state of New Hampshire, and discovered that casinos would be allowed under certain conditions, largely that they would support charities. He set up a small casino in a restaurant and expanded as he went along. Today, New Hampshire boasts many charity casinos that contribute 35 percent of their revenues to charities, and a small percentage to the state. Rafferty explains how that progressed when he spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros on the exhibit floor at G2E in October in Las Vegas.

Even though the technology of today’s industry is lightyears ahead of what it was 25 years ago when the IGSA was first founded, the ethos of service and common good still permeates through the organization, and there are no better examples than Earle G. Hall and Nimish Purohit, current chairman and vice chairman. Both are leaders who live on the cutting edge of the industry, and both are acutely aware of the potential dangers and pitfalls that lie ahead for the industry at large. They spoke to GGB Managing Editor Jess Marquez from their respective Las Vegas offices in August.

President, iGaming, IGT

As a member of the Mohegan tribe, Ray Pineault’s heart is with the people. As the president of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, he oversees all the gaming conducted by the tribes and the facilities where it is conducted. From the flagship Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to the first commercial casino run by a tribe in Pennsylvania, the tribe’s partnerships with other gaming tribes and now the new Inspire integrated resort in Korea, Pineault has his hands full. He discusses all these properties and explains how the company and the tribal council work together to ensure a successful future for at least seven generations. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas in October.

When the pandemic ended and casinos reopened in 2020, most of them prohibited smoking. But once the masks came off the cigarettes came back out. Lamont White, a dealer at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, joined other dealers in objecting to the policy and formed CEASE, or Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects. The effort may pay off in New Jersey as the leading politicians in New Jersey will vote on a bill to establish a full smoking ban in all casinos in the state. Meanwhile, CEASE has spread to many other states where smoking is still permitted. White explains the motivations behind the movement and the hypocrisy of casino executives who can’t even defend the policy. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros on the exhibit floor at G2E in October in Las Vegas.

When Kiss frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley wanted to invest in a company that specializes in good food and drinks, they went to Rock & Brews, a rock n’ roll bar and restaurant chain operated by legendary rock promoter Dave Furano. Today, there are almost 20 Rock & Brews across the country, many in casinos in California, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Florida. CEO Andy Goldberg explains how the company works with casinos, both commercial and tribal, and why Rock & Brews is building a powerful brand that can fit almost any gaming situation. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros on the exhibit floor at G2E in October in Las Vegas. 

Eureka Casinos started as a small gaming hall on Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas. Later it expanded into Mesquite, Nevada where it’s one of the largest casinos. But the real interesting story about Eureka is how it expanded into New Hampshire with its charity casinos. COO Andre Carrier explains how Eureka took the Seabrook Greyhound Park and turned it into the Brook, the state’s largest casino and talks about how the charity casino donates millions of dollars to charitable organizations throughout the state. He also reveals how Eureka has transitioned to a completely employee-owned company and how that benefits both the company and the people who work there. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros from his office in New Hampshire in August.

Bally’s Corporation is one of the up-and-coming gaming companies, joining iGaming together with land-based properties. Mike Donovan was brought on several years ago to run the company’s Kansas City property and later was responsible for all the facilities in the Midwest. He was recently promoted to chief marketing officer for Bally’s and will oversee the marketing campaigns for all 17 properties, including the temporary Bally’s Chicago, which is and will be the only casino inside the city limits. He previously worked in Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City, where he began the turnaround of the Ocean Resort Casino, now one of the most successful on the Boardwalk. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros on the exhibit floor at G2E in October in Las Vegas.

As a federal agency, the National Indian Gaming Commission plays a unique role in helping to oversee and regulate a tribal gaming industry that is sometimes at odds with federal and local authorities. However, with over three years now at the helm of the NIGC, Chairman Sequoyah Simermeyer is more than capable of tackling some of the sector’s biggest challenges. He spoke with GGB Managing Editor Jess Marquez at October’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

With a new hotel, showroom, restaurants and expanded casino to go along with a new name— Yaamava’ Resort & Casino—a new general manager was appointed earlier this year, Kenji Hall. With an extensive gaming background, Hall came to the former San Manuel Resort Casino in 2017 as COO. The new Yaamava’ has garnered praise from all quarters, including a spectacular theater and several new food outlets. Hall says he’s concentrating on getting the property to hit on all cylinders as it moves forward. He spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros from his Yaamava’ office in September. GGB Podcast sponsored by IGT.

Today's GGB Podcast features Tim Minard, CEO of Eclipse Gaming, a fast-growing Class II slot supplier. Tim Minard has dedicated his company and his personal efforts to giving back to his community, his tribal customers, and a multitude of outside charitable causes. He spoke with GGB Editor Frank Legato at the Eclipse headquarters in Duluth, Georgia.

Today's podcast features Sean Sauter, IGT's vice president of system sales for the Americas, and Rachelle Rabago, vice president of casino systems technology. The IGT executives explain how cloud-based innovations have been improving the IGT Advantage casino management system. They spoke with GGB Editor Frank Legato via Zoom in August.

Even though the technology of today’s industry is lightyears ahead of what it was 25 years ago when the IGSA was first founded, the ethos of service and common good still permeates through the organization, and there are no better examples than Earle G. Hall and Nimish Purohit, current chairman and vice chairman. Both are leaders who live on the cutting edge of the industry, and both are acutely aware of the potential dangers and pitfalls that lie ahead for the industry at large. They spoke to GGB Managing Editor Jess Marquez from their respective Las Vegas offices in August.

With the return of full access to G2E in 2022, this year’s show is even more wide open, and poised to be more successful. Korbi Carrison (l.) is entering her sixth G2E as the vice president of the event for show producer RX (formerly Reed Exhibitions) and Maureen Beddis (r.) is overseeing her first G2E as the senior vice president of membership and events for the American Gaming Association. With the lessons learned in 2022, G2E 2023 has introduced some new twists that will make it a truly “can’t miss” event. They spoke with GGB Publisher Roger Gros via Zoom in August.