Casino Life 148

The magazine for the owners and management of international casinos Volume 17: Issue 148 SMALL-TOWN GIRL MAKES IT BIG-TIME IGT’S JENNIFER BOWMAN



CASINO Editor’s Note The magazine for the owners and Welcome... management of international casinos If 2021 still saw headlines dominated by Published by Covid-19, for gaming it was nonetheless Outsource Digital Media Ltd the Year of Sports Betting. In the United States, where 2020 ended with sports Editorial: wagering legalized in the District of Columbia and 26 states, by the Editor: David McKee beginning of 2022 that number had [email protected] swelled to 33, with some – like Ohio yet to go live. Indeed, the Buckeye Associate Editor Asia: State passed sports-betting legislation Bill Healey in such haste that it may take another [email protected] year to get it up and running with a regulatory framework in place and such. Associate Editor EMEA: Aydin Guney Nonetheless, wherever sports betting has debuted it has found an aydin.guney@outsourcedigital ardent and eager public. Arizona’s first two months saw $777 million in media.com wagers and $70 million in revenue. New York State went ‘live’ on January 8, with 5.8 million bets being placed in the first 12 hours alone. During International Correspondent: that first weekend, so vociferous was the wagering activity in the Empire Lyudmyla Kyrychenko State that Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings and FanDuel all saw their lyudmyla.kyrychenko@outsource Web sites crash under sheer betting volume at some point. digitalmedia.com As gratifying as the inrush of revenue may be, the sports betting model Production: in the U.S. is not without serious questions. For all the prestige of being in New York, can operators be profitable when paying 51 percent of their Designer: Stewart Hyde gross earnings (not their profits, as is sometimes reported) in taxes to [email protected] Albany? And can they afford to be as generous with their promotional www.totaldesignworks.com offers when operating on such narrow margins? Are jurisdictions like New York going to be “loss leaders?” Accounts: Helen Holmes [email protected] As we turn the page into 2022, we also hope for more clarity from Macao, where predictions of the future are manifold and contradictory. IT Director: Pasha Kuzminskiy Concession renewals are due in June but even that is a moving target. [email protected] Wall Street doesn’t worry that operators will lose their licenses but they may well have to pay more for the privilege of doing business in a pro- Publisher: Peter White tected market. Few expect the government to upset the applecart, but Tel: +44 (0) 1892 740869 deteriorating relations between China and the U.S. are causing some Mob: +44 (0) 7973 273714 apprehension for Occidental casino powers. [email protected] There is also the vexing question of the all-important junket market following the arrest of Alvin Chau and collapse of his Suncity Group. Looking ahead, VIP play is presumed to be endangered, if not downright extinct, as some predict. Even the existence of junketeers themselves – who alone can extend credit in Macao – is not taken for granted. If they survive, the premium-mass player stands to benefit from their solicitude. Casinos got a double whammy, as Macanese courts ruled they are on the hook for junket-incurred debt. Getting into Macao was a casino operator’s dream but staying there is sometimes causing sleepless nights for the lucky few. DMcKee David McKee Editor Volume 17: Issue 148 3

Contents 6 13 21 28 3 Editors Note 38 6 Playing a full house 33 41 Or, how CEO Dan Lee’s company survived the pandemic and plans to thrive. By David McKee 13 Heritage Inspired Touring California’s new Yaamava’ Resort & Casino with General Manager Peter Arceo. By Peter White 21 Agent of change Ambassadeurs Group’s Tracy Damestani is someone to watch. By Peter White 28 Small-town girl makes it big-time Catching up with International Game Technology’s Jennifer Bowman. By Peter White 33 Both sides now Anthony Cabot has been a leading advocate for the gaming industry but he’s showing regulators the way to the future. By Peter White 38 Meet the new rules, same as the old rules Sighs of relief greet the proposed second generation of casino concessions in Macao. By David McKee 41 Mob Rules The Mob Museum is the place to go for a fix of criminal history. By David McKee Editorial Policy: The views and opinions expressed in Casino Life remain principally the views of contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers. The publishers wish to avoid inaccuracies and, whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is accurate, no liability is accepted by the editor or publishers for errors or omissions, however caused. Unless otherwise stated, articles appearing in this publication remain the copyright of the publishers and may not be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written consent. Printed in the UK by Severn Print.



Feature: Full House Playing a full house Or, how CEO Dan Lee’s company survived the pandemic and plans to thrive. By David McKee A lthough it is based in Las Vegas, Full teeth as a securities analyst on Wall Street at Drexel House Resorts is anything but a Sin Burnham Lambert and CS First Boston. He also spent City-centric company. Instead, it has seven years as CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, during made its name serving some of gaming’s which time it crafted such industry-leading properties as L’Auberge du Lac and L’Auberge Baton Rouge. niche markets. Its five-casino (soon to be six) reach We spoke with him from Full House headquarters in Summerlin, Nevada. encompasses: the Silver Slipper in Biloxi, Mississippi; What kind of brand identity do you strive for at Full Rising Star in Rising Sun on the southernmost fringe House Resorts? We operate five different casinos in five different places of Indiana; Bronco Billy’s in Cripple Creek, Colorado; and they each have a brand that’s important to that neighborhood but we don’t operate under a uniform Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, Nevada; and Grand brand. For example, we have a casino in Mississippi and we have a casino in southern Indiana. Lodge Casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Full House It is rare that a customer from one ends up at the is a boutique operation. None of its casinos has more other? Where there’s pros and cons, on the pro side most than 1,000 slots and Bronco Billy’s only has 24 hotel of our customers live a short drive from us. So if they live in Cincinnati, they’re a half an hour drive from our rooms—a situation in Cripple Creek that is soon to www.casinolifemagazine.com change with the construction of Full House’s five-star Chamonix resort. Masterminding the company is CEO Dan Lee, who just celebrated his seven-year anniversary in that role. He made his name in the industry as Steve Wynn’s right-hand man at Mirage Resorts, someone who is able to suss out a deal when it is not immediately obvious. A Cornell University alumnus, Lee cut his 6

Feature: Full House Silver Slipper Casino, Biloxi property in Rising Sun. If they live in Colorado Springs, We had just started construction on a parking they’re 45 minutes from our property in Cripple Creek, garage in Colorado and had raised the money to Colorado, and so on. The regional casinos have that build it, so we had roughly $20 million in the bank. convenience factor. Many of our customers come once We quickly stopped construction because we wanted a week or once a month. They can get to our casino as to make sure we could survive. One could complete fast as they can get to the airport, park their car, and the parking garage but then end up filing bankruptcy get into the terminal and fly to Las Vegas. So if one is because then the casinos aren’t open. That doesn’t do primarily interested in playing a slot machine, we’re a anybody any good. heck of a lot more convenient for the people in each of our markets than is Las Vegas. I remember at one point … I was listening to something on the radio this morning on how much How did Full House weather the pandemic and are politics intrudes on this whole pandemic, when it you operating at full scale now? really shouldn’t. For example, some 30 percent of the The answer to the second question is yes. Weathering country has refused to get vaccinated. Well, an awful the pandemic was actually very interesting. First, lot of that is driven by politics. The likelihood of having it was an area of big concern for us, as it was for been vaccinated is much higher if you’re a Democrat everybody. All of a sudden we were shut down: The than if you’re a Republican. So people are playing with regulators required us to close for almost 90 days. It their health based on their politics, which is sad. varied a little bit from market to market as to when we could reopen and how but we were effectively But I remember in Indiana, for example, when completely shut down for almost 90 days. Full House the disease was first discovered, we were trying to is a public company. We had debt. We still have to pay take measures where we’d be allowed to continue interest on the debt and other costs like real estate to operate. So we were installing hand-sanitizing taxes. Frankly and sadly, we had to lay off almost machines and taking people’s temperature at the door. all of our employees. We kept the employees who We were disabling every other slot machine so people would be most critical to reopening and a few security weren’t sitting close to each other. The state of Ohio, employees. But we laid off over 95 percent of our which is next door to Indiana, had come out with a employees and didn’t really have a choice. set of rules for the casinos similar to what I just said: Keep everybody six feet apart and all that stuff. It’s Volume 17: Issue 148 actually quite possible to enforce or encourage “social 7

Feature: Full House Full House Resorts President and CEO Dan Lee Anyway, we took that 90-day closure period to reexamine how we operated. The timing was a little distancing” within a casino. But they mandated that bit fortuitous because we had just installed the churches and schools close. In the science of it that Konami slot-management system. We already had it makes sense. When one goes to church one generally in Mississippi but we put it in our properties in Indiana sits in a pew and you’re usually not six feet apart. Then and Colorado. That system provides us far better data there’s singing involved. A casino, on the other hand, of who’s playing your slot machines and how they’re if you turn off every other slot machine or otherwise playing. It’s also a better customer experience: Their keep the slot machines six feet apart it’s relatively easy points and free play are on the screen, they don’t have to maintain social distancing. It’s not really an unsafe to go stand in line at a desk to redeem their free play place. and all this stuff. We had just put it in just prior to the pandemic and, quite honestly, didn’t really understand And I remember there was an editorial in the how it worked. newspaper in Ohio that said, “Well, why can you not allow us to worship or go to school but you’re allowing Since we had better data, we started to figure out these casinos to continue to operate?” When I read which one of our customers we’re making money on that editorial, I thought, “Oh, crap.” Sure enough, the and which ones we aren’t. We found out that we had next day Ohio came out an closed all the casinos and a lot of customers that we were upside down on. We I think the day after that Indiana closed all its casinos. comped them so much in buffets and hotel rooms that To some extent, the closures and restrictions reflected we weren’t making money on them. And then we had politics as much as science. Then, as we were allowed other customers, very important customers, who we to reopen, some jurisdictions allowed table games to found we weren’t paying enough attention to. So we operate while others didn’t. This didn’t make sense revamped our marketing policies and our players clubs to me either; it’s far more difficult to operate socially to reflect all that. distant table games than slot machines. Just think about all the chips changing hands. Then when it was time to reopen, we said, “Let’s reopen very carefully. We don’t know if customers are 8 going to show up. Let’s be very careful about what restaurants we reopen and what the hours of operation are. Because we could lose a lot of money fast if we reopen full-bore and customers don’t show up.” Well, we found that customers did show up. The customers were smart. They realized that if you go to a casino and play a slot machine, it can be a safe experience in a pandemic because you can kind of keep away from everybody else. For example, with the Konami system, when a customer is done playing and takes his or her card out, the machine would shut down until an employee came and sanitized the machine. If you saw a machine that was on, that meant it was sanitized. In the restaurants we had to space everybody out, so we didn’t have nearly the restaurant capacity. That actually allowed us to get rid of some sacred cows that we’d had for a very long time—promotions and ways of operating that people were afraid to do anything about, including myself. We said, “What have we got to lose at this point?” So for example, $5 blackjack tables had been unprofitable for a long time. If somebody bets $5 at blackjack the house edge is typically two percent. If you bet $5 dollars we expect to win 10 cents. If you have a full table, you’re getting www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Full House Grand Lodge, Lake Tahoe 60 cents a hand on maybe 50 hands an hour. From example, our property in Cripple Creek had offered a that you have to pay the dealer and the relief dealer. 49-cent breakfast for some 25 years. That was a real Then you’ve got supervisors and pit bosses, and breakfast with eggs, bacon, coffee, orange juice … you’re giving customers comps and by the time you and it was 49 cents. Obviously it was a loss leader. add it all up you’re not making money at $5 a hand. When I pointed out how much lost every month by You’re certainly not making money at $5 a hand if offering an essentially free breakfast the property you’re not limiting to three people at the table. Under management would counter, “That’s the secret of the temporary Covid rule, the dealer makes the same our success. That’s why people come to us. You but now you only have three people sitting at the table. can’t eliminate that.” I’d been at Cripple Creek and So we just made the decision that when we reopened I’d walk into the little coffee shop that had this, and we’re not going to offer $5 tables. And we don’t. To every morning I’d see the same people sitting there. this day we don’t. They were locals. I didn’t know well enough to know whether they were people who play slot machines or What we did do, during the period of time we were not but I thought it was kind of interesting that we were closed, is we installed more of the video-simulated serving almost a free breakfast to a lot of the same blackjack tables where one can play blackjack but with people every morning. So we didn’t offer the 49-cent a computer-simulated dealer rather than a live dealer. breakfast. It turned out we had very few people living So if you want to play $5 blackjack, you have to do it in Cripple Creek who were gambling enough to justify at a simulated table. If you want the live dealer it’s a us giving them free breakfast every morning. [Laughs] $15 table and up. Some of the outcomes of that were So we eliminated it and it did not affect our slot play rather interesting. First, our customers adapted readily. at all. They either shifted to the machine or they stepped up what they were gambling. Our revenues ended up In Mississippi we offered a two-for-one buffet being about the same and we did it with fewer dealers. midweek. And we said, “We’re not going to do that The dealers we do have are now making a lot more in with our limited capacity.” It had no impact on our slot tips because somebody playing $15 a hand is likely revenue. In Indiana we operated a buffet that lost $2 to tip more than somebody playing $5 a hand. So we million a year. It was a big, expensive buffet to operate don’t have as many dealers but the dealers we have and did not have enough covers to to make it efficient. are making more money in general. We’re also making We just said, “We’re not going to reopen the buffet.” more money in general because we’re not trying to At first we weren’t allowed to reopen it, because it’s operate games that are unprofitable. harder to control the virus at a buffet than a normal restaurant. So we weren’t allowed to reopen it and our We also made changes at our restaurant. For 9 Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: Full House Rising Star, Indiana casino revenues were fine. Today we could operate and now Monarch have built nice hotels and they’re it and we’ve chosen not to. Because that buffet doing very, very well. So we’re planning to do the historically lost money. In essence we came out of the same thing for Colorado Springs, where Cripple pandemic as smarter operators, to be honest, and our Creek can appeal to a whole different strata of profitability has been significantly better, double what it people who want a nicer hotel room, who might was before the pandemic. gamble enough to be comped in that room or they’re willing to pay for it. But it’s a nice hotel. It’s got a lot Your next big thing is Chamonix. You’ve said it will of meeting-room space, a spa, heated swimming be the biggest thing to hit Cripple Creek since the pool. discovery of gold. What can we expect to see? That’s correct. They originally legalized gambling in It’s a true resort experience whereas in Cripple Colorado with a $5 maximum bet. All of the casinos Creek today there’s nothing that offers such. It’s that exist today in Cripple Creek were built during odd because Colorado Springs is a pretty big tourist that era. A casino can make money on a $5 machine destination on its own. The Broadmoor Hotel in but it doesn’t allow the casino to offer a nice hotel, Colorado Springs is, I believe, the largest five-star to operate nice restaurants, where the rooms and hotel in the country other than the ones in Las meals are often comped. Recognize that when Vegas. It has a very robust meeting and convention people gamble, they do it for a sense of risk and business, and we’re aiming to be kind of a small an opportunity to win. Well, if all you can bet is $5, version of that up in the mountains. that’s not very exciting to a wealthy person. So they would fly to Las Vegas instead of going to Cripple You’re also expanding Silver Slipper in Creek. The law was changed a few years ago and the Mississippi. How is that going and what are the maximum went to $100 per bet. Then, last spring, environmental challenges involved? betting limits were eliminated completely. So now, The way that property is situated, it didn’t set itself all of a sudden, one can offer restaurants, nice hotel up well to add another hotel tower. When it was built, rooms and all that stuff, appealing to both the historic they didn’t envision adding hotel towers at a later clientele but also a new, higher-end customer. date. There was only one direction to go and it’s out over the Gulf of Mexico. Building on a pier over the There’s a similar community called Black Hawk, Gulf of Mexico is actually not that much different which is an hour from Denver. We’re an hour from from building on land. That part of Mississippi is Colorado Springs. And in Black Hawk, first Ameristar all mud—it’s essentially the delta of the Mississippi 10 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Full House Bronco Billy’s, Colorado River. So whether one builds on land or over the How are your prospects in Waukegan and how do water, one must building on pilings driven 100 feet you rate the competition? down into the mud until you can’t pound them down We’re one of two finalists at this point. The other any more. You have to do that whether it’s on land or finalist is a private company, backed by a Canadian out over the water. The only question is whether the private equity firm. We are far more experienced at pile driver is mounted on a truck or on a barge. developing casinos. I believe our casino is larger and far more interesting than their design. Their design But getting the permission to do it is complicated. is pretty “Plain Jane.” Ours is targeting a higher-end That’s because the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, clientele from throughout Chicagoland. Our casino near the coast, is owned by the State of Mississippi. would produce more tax revenues, more jobs. So the first thing you have to do is negotiate a lease with the State, which we have done. Then you have From the viewpoint of the Illinois Gaming Board, to get the approval of the Corps of Engineers and they can rest easy that the money is there. The of different environmental groups, because you’re actual individual making the competing proposal is a affecting wetlands. We’re in the process of seeking local person from Waukegan who used to be a state those approvals. For example, to fill in wetlands senator. Then he had a slot-route operation that he one usually has to find more pristine wetlands, buy sold. He paired up with a management company out of them and put them into trust so the ducks and other Las Vegas who’s developed a couple of tribal casinos wildlife will always have a place to go. and then and one commercial casino in Sioux City, Iowa. So you’re allowed to fill in your wetlands.So we’re in the you have a Canadian private equity firm, a local former process of seeking those approvals and sometimes it state senator and a small management firm out of Las can be a long process. Vegas. I’m biased but I think we are more capable on Volume 17: Issue 148 11

Feature: Full House every count of developing something terrific for the remember when MGM Grand first opened on the State of Illinois and the City of Waukegan. In fact the Strip in 1993. Originally it had a section of its casino city had hired an independent consultant who rated that did not use coins in the slot machines—the first all the different proposals, based on, as I recall 10 major place to attempt this. It failed. People were different criteria. We were the leader on nine of the 10 accustomed to the coins, carrying the bucket around criteria. and wearing gloves so your hands wouldn’t get dirty. Operationally, it was kind of a nightmare. The casino What are Full House’s plans, if any, vis-a-vis online had to collect all those coins and put them back into gaming? rolls of quarters and then you had people on the floor Online gaming is not yet legal in any of the states selling rolls of quarters in exchange for $10 bills. It in which we operate. But I think it will be and so was a big hassle. So eventually IGT created the TITO it’s something we’re looking at, trying to figure out ticket and reintroduced what had failed at MGM. But how to do it. Online sports betting is legal where we they reintroduced it in a way that became the industry operate, but we chose to enter contracts with third norm, so nobody operates with coins anymore. parties to participate in that business. In that area, FanDuel, DraftKings and some others have been very I would love to get rid of chips at the tables. Chips aggressively marketing, trying to build a large roster are a hassle, too, and why have them? The slot of customers and I think they’re spending so much on machine companies are just coming out with systems marketing that they’re upside down on their income now that we’re looking pretty carefully at where the statement. DraftKings has had a high valuation on the dealer can give a TITO ticket to the customer when he stock market, for example, but loses money. or she cashes out. The customer can then redeem that TITO ticket at any one of the redemption machines on But I think it might be possible to do it in a different the floor. Or put it in a slot machine. A lot of this has way and operate online sports betting primarily for been encouraged by the pandemic because when your own customers. That allows us to coordinate one thinks of reopening table games in a pandemic, better. For example, if somebody was our customer on there’s a real issue of how to keep the chips clean. It a sports-betting website, and they win enough points was never resolved. Some states required you to shut we could invite them for a stay in Indiana where they the table once in a while just to disinfect all the chips could play golf for a weekend. It’s something we’re and so on. If anybody at that table has Covid, even if studying but for the moment we’re not in a hurry. everyone is wearing masks, people’s hands are all over the chips going back and forth. That’s an issue. How is Full House adapting to the cashless revolution in gaming? Cruise ships have had cashless gaming for I don’t know if it’s a revolution as much as evolution. quite some time. It’s not a matter of technology. I’ve been around the industry long enough that I The technology’s there. It’s getting the regulators comfortable. They have been hesitant to allow somebody to just download money from their bank account into a slot machine because they’re afraid somebody could more easily lose more than they can afford to lose. On the other hand, if you don’t allow that to happen then somehow you have a swapping of credit cards and cash and so on, which is not pandemic-friendly. So you have to offset one with the other. Maybe you find other ways to make sure that people do not lose more than they can afford to lose but allow the casino to become more of a cashless experience...because that’s healthier for all involved. You’ve been very generous with your time. Thank you. Take care. Thank you, too. 12 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort Heritage Inspired Touring California’s new Yaamava’ Resort & Casino with General Manager Peter Arceo. By Peter White Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, General Manager, Peter Arceo 13 Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort W e are grateful for your generosity to casino, while the name change allows the tribe to answer our questions. First, I would pursue additional growth opportunities and serve the like to ask you to shortly introduce community under the San Manuel Band of Mission yourself and tell us when and why you Indians enterprise. Additionally, the rebrand to Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel includes a started working in this industry. new visual identity and logo, inspired by the ancestral lands of the Serrano people. For example, the Thank you for the opportunity. I started my career Yaamava’ logo is inspired by yucca plant fronds and basket weaving, which are critical parts of the tribe’s in the casino industry in the mid 90’s as a blackjack history in the region – all paying homage to the culture and heritage of the San Manuel Band of Mission dealer while I was attending the University of Nevada- Indians. Las Vegas. I graduated in ’96 with a degree in Hotel Can you explain a bit about the difficulties created by COVID-19 and what action you’ve taken to Administration. I spent 18 years in Las Vegas before overcome them? Over the last two years, the pandemic made a major heading to Scottsdale, Arizona, to work at Talking impact to the hospitality and gaming industries in many ways. Initially, the issues were focused on how Stick Resort & Casino for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa do we reopen our businesses in a safe manner for our team members and guests. Our casino closed for Indian Community. In 2015, I moved to California to 87 days in 2020 and we spent every day researching products, technologies, and new processes that would join the management team at Yaamava’ Resort & allow us to reopen safely. We sought the advice and counsel of medical experts as part of our process. Casino at San Manuel (formerly San Manuel Casino). Once we were able to resume operations, the focus then shifted to hiring and retaining team members. What is the story behind the name change of The labour landscape changed and there is now a the resort and what is the meaning of the name shortage of workers in the hospitality industry. This Yaamava? happened during a time period where we wanted to Because the opening of their first resort is a historic hire an additional 3,000 team members to re-open milestone for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, our casino and open our resort expansion. In order the tribe decided to refresh the property’s name to do that, we came up with some creative ideas. to represent the beginning of a new chapter and Early in 2021, we created an online virtual career fair boundless potential. Yaamava’ is a native Serrano by leveraging technology that is normally used for word that means “spring – a time of growth, rebirth, online conferences. We took a different approach renewal and transformation.” The tribe will continue to online career fairs by giving direct access to to serve as the owners of this new luxury resort and department managers and executives as part of the career fair. Candidates were able to virtually meet with department leaders and we hosted discussion panels where we covered a wide variety of topics such as workplace culture and career development. This allowed potential candidates to engage and interact with people whom they would work with on a daily basis and gave a more in-depth view into our organization than what a traditional online recruiting event would offer. It was extremely successful and we were able to make hundreds of offers to people over three different online events. Additionally, we opened 14 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort up an offsite recruiting center at the Ontario Mills Mall, located on our top two floors. They feature a spacious which is one of the busiest malls in the U.S. We set up living area adorned with the most luxurious linens and the recruiting center as a one-stop shop for potential amenities. Guests staying in a Cloud Villa will have team members to learn about our organization, apply 1,000-thread-count linens on the beds, luxurious for a job, get an immediate interview, receive a job robes and slippers, and beautiful furniture and décor offer and drug test onsite. We wanted to make it as inspired by the native landscape. Spectacular views of convenient as possible and didn’t require candidates the valley and mountains are visible from that vantage to come in formal attire. People were able to obtain point. a job offer within a couple of hours. We would also host special events at the recruitment center, focusing In terms of dining, what kinds of restaurants do on specific departments and job opportunities. The you have on site, and what are some the signature events were festive and represented a brief snapshot dishes and cocktails you would recommend? of what it’s like to work in our organization. These were extremely successful. The Pines Modern Steakhouse, a fine dining steakhouse that was recently awarded the Award of For a truly luxurious weekend, how would you Excellence from Wine Spectator based on their unique describe the top-tier suites of the property, and wine list and a collection of the world’s rarest spirits. what makes the luxurious suites so special? Our most luxurious suites are the 5 Cloud Villa suites You can also find unique menu presentation, such as table side smoked burrata cheese with house made Volume 17: Issue 148 Sicilian trapanese. 15

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort The ambiance represents the tribe’s heritage and as the whiskey berry smash, which is a refreshing reflects the local landscape. bourbon cocktail that utilizes fresh berries that change with the seasons. The menu features rare and highly coveted Japanese wagyu beef finished on olive leaves cooked In total our property has six dine-in restaurants, table side on a hot lava stone. seven fast casual options and more than 10 lounges and bars. Then there is Serrano Vista Café, a 24-hour café where the design is inspired by the local orange groves Tell us about the grand opening night. How many of Southern California. guests were present, what was the entertainment and who were amongst the lucky winners? The menu features a range of comforting classics We hosted over 800 people for our grand opening with unique twists such as our Pho’rench dip that event on December 13th. After a beautiful ceremony interprets the flavors of Vietnamese pho with a French featuring songs from the San Manuel Band of Mission dip sandwich. The beverage menu has refreshing options such 16 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort Indian Bird Singers and speeches from the San Manuel How does the resort cater to its VIPs? Business Committee, we capped off the night with We work hard to provide a unique experience for our a spectacular projection map show and a special VIP players. We have five high-limit rooms, offering performance by Grammy-winning artist Miguel. 532 slots and 42 table games. Slot players have six exclusive gaming salons where we can configure The casino also has 120 tables in addition to the room with the games they would like to play blackjack and roulette. What are amongst the other given three days’ notice. We also have a spectacular card games popular at the resort? beverage program, which we call “Collection 86,” Our property now features over 150 table games. EZ featuring rare spirits and wines from around the world. Baccarat is one of the most popular games among The Collection 86 menu is available throughout the our guests. Additionally, we have progressive jackpots property including the Y Lounge, which is located at across our gaming floor and a special progressive the top of the resort tower for our VIP guests to enjoy available only on games in our high-limit rooms. light food fare and spectacular views of the valley. Our Volume 17: Issue 148 17

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort new spa features treatment “journeys” that are custom function are well thought out and we release features tailored for each guest to choose from and is centered once it’s passed a battery of tests to ensure that our around a crystal that connects the energy to the spa guests will respond favourably. Download the app experience. and I think you’ll immediately feel and experience the difference between other apps that are out in the The resort also recently launched the Yaamava’ market. So far, our daily active users and engagement Resort & Casino App. stats have shown that this is working well for us. We spent a considerable amount of time designing the user interface and experience of our mobile app. Can you tell us about this sponsorship deal with Ease of use and perceived value were two critical the National Women’s Soccer League expansion components of our requirements. Every feature and team Angel City FC? 18 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Yamaava’ Resort We are partners with a variety of organizations throughout Southern California and Nevada. The partnership with Angel City FC was attractive to us because their mission and values to support the local community matched the community-focused mission of the tribe. It is exciting to be a partner with an organization that works hard to make the community a better place. What sort of involvement does the Yammava’ Resort and Casino have with the surrounding communities? T he tribe is incredibly committed to strengthening the local community and they do it in a variety of ways. They employ more than 6,000 team members, most of whom live right here in the Inland Empire. Since 2003, the tribe has given more than $290 million to non-profits, schools, medical facilities and other organizations not just here in the community, but in Nevada and other states. Just a few examples of the tribe’s philanthropy can be found on its website - • The City of San Bernardino, the LA Kings, LA For those planning a weekend getaway to Galaxy, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, how would you carve collaborated with KABOOM!, a national non- out their perfect itinerary? profit dedicated to playspace equity, to open an The perfect itinerary would be: accessible playground at Lionel E. Hudson Park. A two-night stay in a one-bedroom suite. A Friday evening dining reservation at the Serrano Buffet. Leave • San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated time for gaming after dinner. Saturday morning, take $4 million to create more jobs through Goodwill a Aquamarine (calming and balance) journey at the Southern California spa, with a 50-minute facial followed by an 80-minute massage. Saturday lunch at the Serrano Vista Café, • San Bernardino Animal Shelter received a $1.5 with time for gambling after lunch. That evening, make Million Grant from San Manuel Band of Mission a dinner reservation at the Pines Modern Steakhouse. Indians Always leave time for gaming afterward, followed by a nightcap at the Y Lounge on the 17th floor. Sunday, • A $9 million gift from San Manuel Band of Mission finish up with brunch at Pines Steakhouse. Indians galvanized tribal-gaming and -law programs at UNLV What is Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s Live Entertainment Calendar 2021 for 2022? • Tribe donated $25 Million to build San Manuel The Yaamava’ Theater calendar to be announced in Maternity Pavilion at Loma Linda University early 2022. Stay tuned, you won’t want to miss it! Children’s Hospital bringing expanded care to the region’s most vulnerable mothers and babies 19 through state-of-the-art technology, private patient rooms, specially designed delivery rooms and more. Volume 17: Issue 148

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Feature: Les Ambassadeurs Agent of change Ambassadeurs Group’s Tracy Damestani is someone to watch. By Peter White T racy Damestani is a woman on the move. Scarcely had she stepped down from the board of the European Casino As-sociation than she was named an industry ambassador for ICE London. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Ambassadeurs Group, Damestani has also long been an advocate for responsible gaming. She’s been attending ICE since back in its Earls Court days, in 2003, so her new posting returns her to familiar territory. She’s seen a lot of changes in those years, including the passage of the landmark Gambling Act of 2005, as well as the transition of ICE to London’s mammoth, purpose-built ExCeL center, “with an international attendance that’s unrivalled by any other gambling industry event held anywhere in the world,” Damestani says. She counts on her resumé the CEO position at the National Casino Forum, vice chairmanship of the European Casino Association, as well as advocacy for diversity in the gaming industry. In conversation with Casino Life, she discusses her myriad accomplishments, her commitment to player protection and her new role with Les Ambassadors. It promises to be an exciting new voyage. Please could you begin by telling us a little about I’m passionate and dedicated to raising standards yourself? across business. During my time at the National I have been working in the industry for the last 20 Casino Forum we formulated and delivered trailblazing years. Up until 2020 I was CEO of the National Casino programmes such as: Forum and brought all land-based casino operators • SENSE, the industry’s first Web-based, national VSE under one umbrella, giving the sector a strong, single, unified voice. Promoting safer gambling has scheme always been a crucial element of my activities. I • Playing Safe, a gambling framework, which was privileged to work alongside Sir David Durie, the chair for RIGT at the very outset of establishing the introduced the term ‘safer gambling’ industry’s charity and commissioning body, which is • ACE, a nationally recognized C&SR accreditation for now known as GambleAware. I was vice-chair of the ECA and gained great insight into other countries’ land-based casinos ways of managing regulation and player protection. • IPCA, the industry’s first national, free-to-use, Volume 17: Issue 148 customer-dispute-resolution service 21

Feature: Les Ambassadeurs • DICE, the industry’s first equality, diversity and inclusion framework • Alert Bettor, an integrated player-protection monitoring system I represented the British gambling industry and provided guidance to the EU Commission, assisting with standardising transferable skills for ESCO, the multilingual classification of European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations. Tracy Damestani, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Les Ambassadeurs Can you describe Ambassadeurs Group? Ambassadeurs Group has expedited its plans to diversify its offering that will be a catalyst for raising standards in social justice and create positive change across the industry. Our corporate approach is socially responsible, embraces equality, diversity and inclusion. It builds on the well-established Les Ambassadeurs work-family ethos. Our key aim is to raise standards across businesses, and improve our corporate environmental and economic footprint. We believe that together we can inspire others to embrace achievable and sustainable change. How would you describe your role at Ambassadeurs Group and your position within the organisation? My role as chief of corporate affairs primarily involves liaising with stakeholders such as members of Parliament, the regulator and media; helping to develop and guide policy and comms, and offer insights in relation to safer gambling and charitable aims. With ICE London on the horizon, can you provide readers details on your role with this major international event and what it encompasses? We will be participating at several events during ICE. Our work-family have been asked to present their ground-breaking initiatives at ICE master classes. I have been asked to be an ICE Ambassador, and as a critical friend will be working with Clarion Events throughout the year. Watch this space... How do you see the future with regards to cryptocurrencies? Crypto currency is already here and is a growing payment mechanism for gambling worldwide. The UK has the highest standards for source-of-funds 22 www.casinolifemagazine.com

checks in the world. Despite this fact our regulator Feature: Les Ambassadeurs has moved at a glacial pace in its acceptance of crypto as a source of payment. This must change if 23 the UK is to compete internationally and with other very progressive, crypto-friendly jurisdictions such as the Isle of Mann. Cryptocurrencies are not to be feared nor ignored, governments across the globe are investing in establishing crypto, mostly seeking to peg them to fiat. The UK government has been very open about its intention to create Britcoin. What is Ambassadeur Group’s view on corporate social responsibility? We are proactive on social responsibility and engage with a myriad of charities and good causes. We recently announced a ten-fold increase in our voluntary donation to RET, starting January 2022, and have committed to providing this funding to GambleAware. We will be making further announcements soon in regard to safer gambling. We are proud to be leading the way and encourage like- minded peers to get on board. Can you tell us more about the project- development phases of Ambassadeurs Group, what they include and what are your plans for future development? We are moving swiftly into the digital world, several pilots are underway in the e-commerce space, including NFTs and we are working with Yield, a crypto currency. We’re gearing up to launch a sportsbook product in the second half of 2022, and recently launched Les A Online, with an emphasis on player protection that we believe does not exist anywhere in the world. Our work-family are embarking on this journey with us and are being upskilled to be ready for the great post-Covid re-set. Every step we take is underpinned with giving back, in line with our levelling- up policy. It is a difficult time for the hospitality industry. What do you think will be the hospitality sector’s biggest challenge, post-Covid? My hope is that the biggest challenge will be due to high customer demand. Our staff have largely remained in place so we know we can meet our customers’ needs. However, we understand that Covid has shaken consumer confidence, and certain behaviours have changed, meaning it may take time Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: Les Ambassadeurs for pre-Covid behaviours to return. Our clientele is predominantly international, so rules around 24 international travel are a major factor for our business. That said, having the necessary products and freedoms to attract and retain our ultra-high-net-worth customers, such as appropriate stakes and prizes on fully tracked electronic gaming machines, and to be allowed to transact with our clientele just as our peers can in Europe and beyond are crucial. It will be totally illogical if our Mayfair business continues to be stifled by antiquated legislation that serves no logical purpose. We are calling for Section 81 of the Gambling Act to be brought in line with payment practices commonly used around the world. Can you provide an insight into the various changes patrons will find when the walk back into Les Ambassadeurs? Our patrons will be welcomed by the friendliest and most professional people in the industry. They will feel like they have ‘come home.’ We miss seeing our guests. We have increased our offering of electronic table games and slots to accommodate customers. Our patrons will experience even more opportunities for interaction with our gaming staff as we welcome returning members. Every day at Les Ambassadeurs is Safer Gambling Day! During your career to date you have walked through the doors of many high-profile organisations. However, what is it like walk into work at one of the most famous and exclusive casinos in the world, Les Ambassadeurs? I am immensely privileged and proud to be at Les Ambassadeurs, I get a thrill every time I cross the threshold. It feels that I have climbed the work mountain to get here, the view from here is wonderful, the work-family are inspiring, they care about each other and their guests. Our CEO is a cut above the rest, he has a moral compass combined with brilliant business acumen and energy that is truly unique. Have you anything else you would like to add? Diversity, inclusivity and equality are proactively promoted throughout the Ambassadeurs Group. The compliance and management teams here are truly second to none and given my previous role I can say that with utmost confidence! www.casinolifemagazine.com

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Feature: IGT Jennifer Bowman, Senior Director Marketing, IGT Small-town girl makes it big-time Catching up with International Game Technology’s Jennifer Bowman. By Peter White 28 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: IGT W e are grateful to your for your responsible for regionally focused product marketing, generosity in answering our questions. field marketing, event management, branding and First, I would like to ask you to digital marketing, including social media. They craft introduce yourself, and tell us when the go-to-market positioning of our products intended for EMEA and LAC markets, provide creative direction and why you started working in this industry. for related marketing collateral, design integrated campaigns, provide launch activations in the field, Thank you for the opportunity, I love the chance to and plan our presence at trade shows. All of these varied activities are done in concert with ensuring share my enthusiasm for the industry and my role as a that customer communication and social media content are engaging, targeted, and within our brand marketing leader across diverse markets. I have over standards. 20 years’ experience in the gaming industry, beginning From a marketing-operations perspective, I oversee the strategic procurement and program management my career in the compliance department of Anchor of the technology stack that the global marketing team leverages to support all of IGT’s business Games in Las Vegas. I immediately loved the sense verticals. Part of this tech stack includes integrated sales-enablement platforms for ease of accessing that a corporate job could lead toward the betterment content needed during a sales cycle versus marketing- only usage. Thus, marketing-operations roles vary of the communities in which we serve. Combined with greatly. One day it could be the distribution of a global customer communication in Salesforce.com Marketing the thrill of working in an entertainment industry and Cloud, another it could be securely providing training or marketing assets to our sales team. Importantly, being given free rein to learn new technology, and as our marketing technologies produce valuable analytics that enable us to determine the usage of our tools and opportunities presented themselves, I felt that I had the impact our campaigns. I love the diversity of my daily duties whether it be working with live customer found the perfect industry! events and product launches, providing campaign strategies or leveraging integrated technology. The IGT’s acquisition of Anchor Gaming allowed me diversity of my work keeps my day fresh and varied, and there is always someone interesting to talk the opportunity to relocate to IGT’s then-corporate through a current campaign, which keeps the focus on fun and entertainment. headquarters in Reno where I worked extensively What have been your personal highlights of the with cross-functional groups implementing a range past year? I was absolutely, over-the-moon thrilled to be back of software solutions. Seizing an opportunity to join hosting IGT customers at an industry exhibition after over a year of hosting virtual events. I believe that the the International division, I moved to Amsterdam best way to capture the love and energy that people have for an industry is at a live event such as a trade in 2006 as the product manager for international show. You could see the relief and joy on everyone’s faces as they would greet old friends, colleagues, casino products, overseeing and crafting go-to- customers and competitors, and feel a collective sigh of relief as the world of gaming looked to each market activities for all markets outside of the U.S. other, and collectively toward a sense of recovery. I love that 2021 was a great lesson in adaptability and Canada, and have since held various global and flexibility as the market opening status and marketing roles for well over a decade. Currently I 29 reside in London. and am responsible for the global marketing operations, marketing-automation and sales-enablement technology platforms. Additionally, I continue to lead marketing teams across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and thrive on the complexity of leading multi-national, multi-cultural teams across geographies. What is involved in your role as senior director of marketing? I have held many roles at IGT. Over the past decade my role has evolved to ensure that we are adapting to the latest market and business needs. In my current remit I oversee all marketing activities for EMEA and LAC, and at a global level, all our marketing operations. What I love most about marketing is that there are so many facets and skills to master. With a market-specific role, my team members have the opportunity to wear many hats, and enjoy a diverse set of duties on a daily basis. My regional teams are Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: IGT restrictions were continually shifting around the globe. Given your global presence across Latin America, The ever-changing market conditions forced us to Africa and Europe, to what extent do you look to make the plans as needed, sometimes shelving them personalize for each region? for later use, and to be ready to react immediately, It is paramount in marketing that we are curating upon markets reopening, to assist our customers with content that is relevant to the market. We create launch activities. campaigns that are impactful and resonate with the target audience. Speaking our customers’ or players’ Most of all, it was incredible to be able to see so language, not only literally with language translation— many people whom I hold dear in person to know although that is an element of complexity that we that they were safe, to hear what great ideas they navigate—but in the beautiful, smaller nuances that had hatched, and to see innovation continue with help to define doing business in a new culture is new products and technology brought to market. For critical. My favorite part of my role is that I work across me, it all started with Ukraine this year and it was so a diverse multi-national, multi-cultural employee, wonderful to see the Ukrainian market reopen, the customer and player base. industry gather and people closing 2021 with their sights set toward the future. Understanding the nuances that are unique to a culture is critical for a marketing campaign to be 30 successful. Examples can range from how a business meeting is conducted, to the level of formality of address in our marketing communications; the shifting player demographic and their behavioral differences are all part of what we do every day. My team strives to create engaging content that provides insightful information to our customers. We create content that will help our partners speak to their players in an educational and entertaining way that is within our customer’s brand whilst representing the IGT brand. IGT localizes its products to meet the unique player needs and preferences in individual markets and marketing has the privilege of telling this story. Our stories must shift to resonate with our audience which can range from players in Romania who love fruit machines, to a casino player in Mexico who may experience a holiday-promotion weekend, to a player who first visited Monte Carlo and stumbled upon a casino. IGT has this great opportunity in the Ukrainian market, where we had a very strong brand presence prior to market closure, and now we can bring back the love for IGT games to players in a fun and interesting way. Understanding the local markets, and how to help our partners build affinity for IGT products, will only happen if we personalize the content created for each experience. If you could choose anyone, who would pick as your mentor? If the time-space continuum was not an issue, then without hesitation it would be Amelia Earhart. The story of her adventures, and her love for exploration and aviation I find thrilling! Her pioneering and www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: IGT indomitable spirit forging new frontiers for women Coming from the Midwest, how do you like has always commanded my attention. I love finding London? Was it a big culture shock? fierce, brave, unconventional people in the world I was incredibly fortunate in my childhood to spend and spending as much time with them as possible. time living in my parents’ separate households. I was It keeps my perspective broad and my mind open to raised primarily during the school year in a very small new scenarios, facilitating new approaches to problem town of only 74 people in Idaho, on the Montana solving. I work with several mentors currently, both border along the Continental Divide. Location and inside and outside gaming, and they are brilliant, population constraints alone taught me many lessons inspiring humans each in their own unique way. Most including the meaning of community, survival skills of all, my mentors lend such a wonderful, unique lens (it was the mountains, after all) and how to be a self- to how they see the exact same scenario I present reliant, resourceful problem-solver, as there usually myself in, and I find this perspective refreshing. When was no one within 120 miles when you needed to ‘call my ideas are challenged, it forces me to examine my a professional.’ perception. As a result, I stay creative, resourceful, and the work remains interesting. When mentors share I spent my summers traveling to be with my father, their wisdom with me it is great to see how they have who was working as an engineer in the power industry navigated strife, not only their public successes. I find and constantly in a new location. These summers it so enriching to have a community that can lend me of adventure provided me balance to offset living in their wisdom and experience and encourage everyone such a small, rural community. He also instilled this to have more than one mentor to benefit from this wonderful sense of wanderlust, which still fuels me diversity of thought. Ultimately, after years of coaching today, and I hear its constant beckoning and yearn and experience, I hope that when I am faced with for continuous exploration. I remember having almost complexities in life or work, I can learn the lesson that paralytic anxiety about how to function in a larger city the challenge provides me and take that lesson as a and crafting a step-down plan of how to integrate and gift forward. survive. Although I was well travelled as a child, I had no idea how to take public transport, had zero street Volume 17: Issue 148 31

Feature: IGT That morning reminded me that I am still very much the person that has zero stranger-danger and will talk to everyone! However, I do know that such a quality is one of my favorite things about the people in the gaming industry—we all assume that if you don’t know me, you know someone I know, and I might find out your hobbies and your entire work history when I bump into you at a trade show. smarts, and no idea how to navigate a world when What are your views on what the industry needs to you didn’t walk past every person greeting them with do to help attract and retain more women? a smile and saying hello! I made a series of moves that Over the past month I kept seeing the same quote helped prepare me for living in a large metropolitan across multiple social media channels and it always city and, luckily, I moved to Amsterdam as my first made me stop and pause: “Surround yourself with European home, a city with such a diverse community women who would mention your name in a room full of expats. I was welcomed and helped by so many of opportunities.” It is such a simple idea, not only as I suffered massive culture shock settling into a for women but for everyone in gaming to approach European lifestyle. I was thrilled when the opportunity each of our workdays with intentional inclusivity. If to work and live in London presented itself. It is such a you know of a woman that is talented and it would beautiful city, not only incredibly diverse, but steeped offer an opportunity for growth or a new experience, in iconic historic monuments, museums, the theatre are you helping to make the introductions and district—oh, how I could go on extolling London’s recommendations? At least once a week I am virtues! approached regarding someone in my network all looking for various things ranging from assistance I remember one scenario when I first moved to finding a mentor, looking to fill a vacancy or for an London, nine years ago, that sums up my experience introduction. Without hesitation, I provide several of a small-town girl finally moving to London. It was options if I can think of anyone that might be a good a cold winter day and as I climbed out of the tube connection or introduce them to a professional in my and walked through our large business complex, network that might be able to assist. I said hello and smiled, greeting everyone only to have looks of incredulity returned. Promptly I retold The gaming industry is building more diverse and my commute to my colleagues and asked why inclusive work environments not simply because it everyone is so incredibly grumpy in London. My tale is the right thing to do, but it’s what must be done was only met with laughter and a stern lecture that I by companies in order to thrive. It should become was to stop speaking to every stranger I pass on the ubiquitous to have conversations of opportunities street. Apparently, much to my disbelief, we aren’t all naturally turn to those we know in our network, and colleagues if we only share an office building skyrise. it is the responsibility of those who have history in the industry to continue introducing new talent so that they have the opportunity to learn. Additionally, we all benefit from a fresh perspective. I think that mentorship plays a huge role in retaining talented women in gaming, and it brings me such joy to be a mentor as well as to work with many of my mentors. The most wonderful thing about gaming is that there is so much opportunity for anyone that wants to learn. That spirit pervades markets and organizations with such an energy that we need to show women in gaming the opportunities that do lie ahead and prepare them to take advantage when they are present. 32 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: UNLV Both sides now Anthony Cabot has been a leading advocate for the gaming industry but he’s showing regulators the way to the future. By Peter White W hen Anthony Cabot speaks, people listen. They’ve been listening to him for decades as a frequent presence before Nevada regulators, advocating for the interests of the industry. But he’s got a new cause and a new bully pulpit at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Cabot is taking up the cudgels on behalf of the problem gambler and on how he or she is treated in the Silver State (poorly, in Cabot’s opinion). That was the jumping-off point for a wide-ranging conversation about Cabot’s beginnings in gaming law, his role at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, the innovative programming being done at the latter and, finally, the future of post-pandemic Las Vegas. Today we’re privileged to have Anthony Cabot, Distinguished Fellow of Gaming Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Welcome, Tony. Thank you for having me. What led you to a life specializing in gaming law? Anthony Cabot, Distinguished Fellow of Gaming Law at the Forty years ago, I’d just gotten out of law school, and William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada-Las Vegas didn’t have a direction at that point. I happened to be interviewed by a firm from Las Vegas. I liked the professor, almost 20 years ago, and we gradually built firm, came up to Las Vegas, and had the privilege the program. The gaming-law program at the Boyd of working for the former governor, the founder of School of Law began with one class and now we have gaming law in Nevada—Grant Sawyer. I did what nearly a dozen classes. We have a dedicated gaming- Grant did at first, and Grant did gaming law, along with law journal. We have a Master of Law program. Now Bob Faiss, and they became my mentors 40 years we’re starting the executive-law program. ago. I naturally evolved into the practice from there. With regards to the pandemic, how have the past Tell us about the William S. Boyd School of Law? 12 months been and what would you are the high So it’s at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. It’s a points of the last 12 to 18 months? public university. It’s one of the higher-ranked law Well, the high points are fewer. It’s tough to get schools in the United States. It started about 25 or through a pandemic when you’re a teacher. One so years ago, and even from its initial beginning, it had a gaming-law class. This makes sense because you ought to be teaching gaming law if you’re in Las Vegas and have a law school. I started as an adjunct Volume 17: Issue 148 33

Feature: UNLV of the things I really valued when I went to teach who have taken it upon themselves to implement full-time was the daily interaction with the students. responsible-gambling programs and I don’t have any That becomes more difficult when virtually all of your doubt that they do work. But it’s not an industry-wide classes go online. That’s what happened. But there thing were bright spots. One of them was because we went online last year. With the LLM program, many We’ve got 300 large casinos in Nevada. We’ve students who could not take time away from their got thousands of smaller locations. We can’t rely on jobs joined the program because it was all online. a few companies implementing these responsible- That’s an example. We had two really prominent gambling programs and expect to see outstanding lawyers from Macao who went through the LLM results. What I propose is a different approach program last year, and they were up at one o’clock in to responsible gambling. You know, rather than the morning attending class via Zoom. [laughs] But traditional regulation, which says ‘You do this or you’re nevertheless, they were there. We had an outstanding going to get punished.’ It applies to everybody and diversity of people who have had experience in many it’s pretty minimal standards. We have to innovate different jurisdictions, coming together for the LLM and adopt responsible gambling programs. Perhaps program last year. And it really gave a special flair to the state can offer some type of certification for the the program last year. So we were fortunate in that, exemplary programs based on science and that but, again, I am dying to get back into the classroom are well-implemented. Casinos should be able to because that’s where I love to be. get a platinum-level Responsible Gambling badge. It wouldn’t be any different than how you certify What are your primary recommendations regarding buildings for energy efficiency. Let’s give carrots the regulation in place concerning responsible instead of penalties or punishments and see what the gaming in Nevada? industry can do to implement responsible gambling I’ve been involved with the responsible-gambling/ from a creative standpoint. We can then have a real- problem-gambling area for probably about 15 years. life laboratory to see what’s working and what’s not, I served as a vice president with the Nevada Council and hopefully bring those methodologies working to on Problem Gambling and the National Center for the broader industry. Responsible Gambling. Nevada always bothered me because they give minimal effort toward responsible I look at it as a no-lose situation. There would be gambling from a regulatory perspective. In fact, they other things we would do, too. The regulators could spend about $1.5 million a year on responsible or assign a person with oversight over responsible problem gambling, which is insufficient given that gambling who help casinos with the programs. The you have a $12 billion-a-year gaming industry. Yet, state could also provide some initial funding for the the regulations give it very little attention. So I say to state programs. But try and take a different approach myself, ‘What can we do as an industry that will bring to responsible gambling to see if we can bring some innovation to responsible gambling?’ And there’s been innovation to the field. Because what we’re doing now a few companies out there, like MGM and others, just isn’t working. The American Gaming Associations has a few initiatives with regard to that. So it’s not like there’s nothing happening. There’s a bit of a push, especially with regard to sports betting-area of the industry. Yes, obviously, I’m looking at the Nevada casino industry specifically. But the rapid proliferation across the United States raises much, much broader issues. Responsible gambling is clearly one of the significant issues. Still, there are many other issues involved: game integrity, insider wagering, whether or not all the different regulatory agencies regulating in all the different states have the competency to do what they 34 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: UNLV need to do. So there’s a whole bunch of issues in that space. With regard to the Master of Law in gaming writing an article contrasting the approach Macao is regulation, what’s involved with this course and taking toward regulation to how the U.S. and Europe how can people apply? approach it. What are the pros and cons? It’s very The Masters of Law in gaming law is for people who collaborative but I learn so much from my students. already have a law degree. This is a postgraduate When major events happen anywhere in the world, degree. We started the program about seven or eight they become topic matter for classes. years ago. We invited people who had their J.D.s to come to Las Vegas, enter this program, and obtain Is there a particular age group of students or are this Masters of Law degree. We initially had a group they right from their twenties to fifties? of about eight the first year and we’ve gone as high They’re diverse. For example, this year I had a student as 14 or 15 per year. These students come from all in the program who was a former judge and did quite over the world. We’ve had people from Africa, South well as a lawyer, decided to retire young and move America, Asia and Europe. Our classes are usually to Las Vegas. But he wanted to remain active. So he diverse, with about a half or more coming from foreign took part in the LLM program. We have some people countries. They study in Nevada for an entire year. that are older. I’m old. [laughs] They’re not quite as Because of the international flavor of the program, old as me. They’re some people that are well into their it is not Nevada-centric. It’s not U.S.-centric. It’s careers and want a change of pace. We have several an international approach to gaming law. Students students who come directly after getting their J.D. effectively take 10 courses. We offer 12 in gaming law, and move to Las Vegas to get their LLM. We had one so they can take all the gaming-law classes they want student this year from the United Kingdom who did and take some other things that might be helpful to that. He’s in his twenties. So our range went anywhere them—intellectual property or something to fill in their from 25 to 50 or so. repertoire. But at the end of the period, we hope that they have a complete understanding of gaming law 35 and policy in all sectors: land-based, online, sports wagering. How does the faculty keep up with all the enormous changes in laws, state and nationally? We have the leading experts in each area we’re teaching. So those people will naturally have their finger on the pulse of gaming and gaming law. I teach two different classes. In my comparative gaming law we study the gaming laws in various countries. Let’s say I have 13 or 14 LLM students—each is assigned a jurisdiction. They become the resident scholar on that particular jurisdiction for the purposes of our class. We go through various gaming law topics such as licensing and anti-money laundering. The students study and contribute the latest updates within their assigned jurisdiction in all these areas. Sometimes, like my last class where I had two of the leading lawyers in Macao, I’m getting insights I could not have gained anyplace else. My students became part of my resources for keeping up on everything. It’s great. In fact, those two Macao lawyers and I are Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: UNLV Sometimes people get into their careers and find their expertise to our students. But it doesn’t really they’ve done everything they can within the career stop there. We have the International Gaming Institute they’ve chosen. Sometimes it’s just good for your here, which has its own building and it’s devoted to mental health to take a different path. We see that in the gaming industry. many of our students, but again, a lot of our students are younger. They do get an excellent education. The law school did a joint program with the IGI, After they’ve left our program, quite a few of them called the International Center for Gaming Regulation. have gotten some fairly impressive jobs in the gaming This is where the regulators from all over the world industry, particularly in regulation. We’ve had students come to get educated. Japan sends its staff to Las who went through our program and later became the Vegas to be educated. They’re one of the dozens that Nevada Gaming Control Board members. One of our do that. We also have, by far, the greatest special alumni went back to Greece and became part of the collection on gaming and gaming law anywhere in the Greek Gaming Commission. So there are more than a world that’s part of our main library. So we have more few people that have gotten an advanced education in resources put together at UNLV than at anyplace else. gaming law, gone back to their jurisdictions, and put So we start to look at all these different components that to great use. and how they work together, and it’s a unique circumstance for people who want to study gaming What are the key advantages of choosing the law. This is the Mecca for that. University of Nevada and William S. Boyd School of Law? Obviously, it’s in Las Vegas. Could you explain to us about the executive Yes, being in one of the gaming capitals of the world program that UNLV is running? is a huge advantage because you have access to Yeah, this is the latest addition to the law school’s resources. For example, I will bring in guest speakers program. Fundamentally, it’s a program for non- in my classes—anybody from Gaming Control Board lawyers. Many people out in the industry working members to practicing lawyers to casino executives with casinos or regulators don’t have a law degree to the heads of compliance committees in major but want to have advanced education in gaming law. corporations. They’re all here in Las Vegas. Then They don’t have the time to go back to law school during Global Gaming Expo, I find out who’s going to and get a law degree but they want to learn about be here from all over the world, the top regulators, and gaming law. So we’ve developed this program, which I invite them to my class. That’s a great advantage. we hope to grow out to about eight classes. We have But the university itself has, over the years, put four currently. We give the non-lawyer everything together a huge amount of resources in this area. they need to know about gaming law in their position. The law school has 12 classes and an alum program. Internal audit or compliance or casino manager or a We have six different professors. This semester we new regulator in a different jurisdiction who just wants have visiting professors who are experts on Native to better understand their job. American gaming, who are doing a residency here and teaching classes. Keith Miller from Drake University In the four classes that we started out with, I will comes here on occasion and teaches classes. So we teach an intro to gaming law. We talk about policy have all these people going to the law school to offer and comparative law, things of that nature. Just to give people an idea of the expansiveness of gaming law. But then we’re going to have classes in Native American law, gaming operations and the law, and a class on responsible and problem gambling. We hope to follow that up very soon with classes on sports wagering and anti-money laundering. About 80 percent of it is going to be online. We’ve taped lessons and exercises and tests, things of that nature. And about 20 percent of it is going to be online but live. We get together with the students and talk about the covered topics. It’s going to give anybody virtually anywhere the ability to take classes effectively at their 36 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: UNLV leisure, which will add significantly to their educational on the Strip and all these different things that are background and help support whatever job they might happening, like the Madison Square Garden arena and have in the gaming industry. the infrastructure with the Tesla tunnels. It’s all going to come back. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge to What are the biggest challenges that you see for get everything working properly again. Hopefully, the Las Vegas and the entertainment community in the pandemic ends after this last wave, and we can get years ahead, post-pandemic? back to servicing the customers in everything other There are great opportunities, which is impressive to than gaming. me because we’re still at the height of a pandemic, and our revenue numbers are higher than they’ve ever Finally, what would you say is the best piece of been in the casino portion of the integrated resorts. business advice you’ve ever had? The harder part, though, is everything else. The hotels, When I was a young lawyer, I was over-aggressive. restaurants and conventions, all took a big hit during I probably watched too many lawyer shows on TV. the pandemic. So gaming revenues are doing quite It was actually Grant Sawyer who took me aside well. There’s pent-up demand. The other areas, we’re and said, “You know, it’s not what you say. It’s how going to have to spend some time to get those back you say it.” You can be as critical of regulators but to where they were. But people just like to gamble. you have to say it in the right way. I really took that The pandemic has kept a lot of people home, kept a to heart. You have to be able to get along well with lot of conventions home, made huge challenges to the people, but you also have to be effective and I think food and beverage industry here...and retail. Retail’s that the ability to taken a hit as well. get along with people and make It’s been everything but gaming. Frankly, Las Vegas your point without survives and prospers not because of its gaming. being offensive is It survives and prospers because of the integrated a huge thing for a nature of its offering to people. I have no doubt we’re lawyer. going to get it back: We see all these great projects 37 Volume 17: Issue 148

Feature: Macau Legislation Meet the new rules, same as the old rules Sighs of relief greet the proposed second generation of casino concessions in Macao. By David McKee A fter much dropping of hints by City Hall were few surprises in the bill, which we consider and considerable fretful speculation benign, therefore removing a major overhang and on Wall Street, Macao’s government providing incremental support for valuations.” laid out its new regime for casino “While there is little change to the current structure concessions in the enclave. They strongly resemble other than the shortened term, we noted the market sentiment was highly negative initially and was the status quo, leading to a palpable sense of relief expecting drastic change. This development … should be a positive for valuations,” wrote Jefferies across the financial world. Although the length of analysts. concessions will be halved—from 20 years to 10, The current licensees aren’t completely out of the woods, as the June retendering process still awaits, with optional three-year renewals under exigent meaning that one or more could get kicked out of town, although most financial analysts think this circumstances—six licenses will be maintained, highly unlikely. As though aware of their precarious status, all six operators quickly lined up to serenade with the sub-concession tier scrapped and all six operators given parity. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli called it “a decidedly favorable event, even if logically expected.” Added analysts for Jefferies Global Gaming, “There 38 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Macau Legislation the government with praise for its sagacity. Warbled others feared retaliation. A Steve Vickers Associates Galaxy Entertainment Chairman Lui Che Woo, “We analysis fretted, “The primary factor which the believe that having optimized laws and regulations in Chinese and Macau authorities consider when place will lay a solid foundation for the city’s steady evaluating concession renewals and new regulations development and propel the synergetic development is clearly the national security criteria and whether, for of the gaming industry, leading to Macao’s overall example, capital flight can be contained, especially economic resilience and diversity.” when linked to US operators seeking to repatriate dividends.” Wall Street reacted positively. Shares of Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Melco Resorts & “Too soon to celebrate,” declared gaming-law Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts all rose as soon as expert (and University of Macau faculty member) I. the news broke. Nelson Rose, although he ceded that it would be legally difficult for Macao to throw out any of the The Macanese government resisted the temptation current concessionaires. (In the extreme instance of to raise taxes, which will continue to be imposed at nationalization, casino companies would be kicked 39 percent. It also reneged on a threat to appoint out sans any form of compensation.) Also, how much government overseers for every casino. And it backed will casino operators have to pay for the formality down from the notion of requiring official approval of having their concessions renewed? The flip side of dividend payments, an idea that polled poorly of that coin is that when Stanley Ho’s concession with the Macao citizenry. Even the junket industry, expired in 2001, it only cost him $9.5 million to get it under a cloud since the arrest of Suncity Group boss back. Alvin Chau, saw a glimmer of light. Junketeers can continue to operate but they will have to pledge their A more nebulous financial burden is a new fealty to one operator apiece. requirement to lavish money on projects of an “educational, scientific and technological nature, Not everyone rejoiced. Some speculated that the environmental protection, culture, and sports.” Writes 10-year terms would inhibit significant investment—a Rose, “My guess is this means giving hundreds of priority for the Macanese regime. And given chilly millions of dollars to the University of Macau and relations between the United States and China, Volume 17: Issue 148 39

Feature: Macau Legislation other schools, spending massive amounts on mass to reinvent the junket business around premium transit and building arenas and soccer stadiums.” mass-market players instead of nearly extinct VIP customers, they have to continue to play a waiting There were some modest tweaks to the present game with Peking regarding the resumption of arrangement in the bill, which now proceeds to the wide-open visitation. China’s zero-tolerance policy Macanese legislature for its rubber-stamp. For one, toward Covid-19 should inhibit Macanese visitation a local managing director, who must be a resident for months to come and Chinese New Year is already of Macao, can have no less than a 15 percent a write-off. While concessionaires may have to pay ownership stake, up from 10 percent. Also, according more this time for their casino licenses, they’re to Santarelli, “The Council is proposing approval be arguably not worth what they used to be. required for major financial decisions, thereby leaving the language somewhat ambiguous.” The fine print that does appear worrisome for operators is a clause requiring minimum amounts of gross gaming revenue per gaming position. If these thresholds are not met, casinos will have to pay the difference out of their own pockets in Year One. If the shortfalls continue for a second year, the city’s chief executive can unilaterally reduce the number of slots and tables at the casino in question. The exact formula remains sketchy. But “This will be a real potential deal breaker for concessionaires, depending upon what that mandated minimum GGR number is,” former governmental advisor David Green told Inside Asian Gaming. For the time, casino operators in Macao have plenty about which to worry. Aside from having 40 www.casinolifemagazine.com

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Feature: Mob Museum Mob Rules The Mob Museum is the place to go for a fix of criminal history. By David McKee O n February 14, 2012, the National Museum went farther still, calling it one of “20 Places Every of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement American Must See.” In 2017 it received accreditation opened in downtown Las Vegas. The from the American Alliance of Museums, the most date was not chosen by happenstance. laudatory recognition possible. Quickie imitators have tried to cash in on the Mob Museum’s cachet— It was the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day invariably with failure. One, The Mob Experience at the Tropicana, was so reverential that Las Vegas Advisor Massacre and the wall against which the melée took derided it as “the Meyer Lansky Presidential Library.” place is one of the central—and most popular—exhibits It’s not ‘dry’ history that the Mob Museum dispenses, either, by any means. The basement of what quickly and formally became known as the Mob hosts the popular Speakeasy, one which dispensed home-distilled moonshine from an authentic brass still Museum. Last year, on November 15, it welcomed its located downstairs. It’s a chance to relive the days of Prohibition. The man charged with overseeing all three millionth visitor. The occasion was Kefauver Day, historical facets of the Museum is Senior Director of Content Geoff Schumacher, named “Best Keeper the 51st anniversary of one of Sen. Estes Kefauver’s of History” by Las Vegas Weekly. A former publisher himself, Schumacher took some time out of a busy notorious hearings on organized crime, held in the very schedule to recapitulate the history of the Mob Museum. courthouse that now cossets the Mob Museum. It is also a day on which local residents are admitted for free, although the Museum’s vast and comprehensive collection makes it one of the best bargains in Sin City. Indeed, the accolades have poured in. USA Today named it a “Top 5 Best History Museum in the U.S. and Best Museum in Nevada.” The New York Times recognized it as “A Must for Travelers” and Fox News 42 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Mob Museum What was the genesis of the Mob Museum? Geoff Schumacher Vice President of Exhibits & Programs First of all, it’s important to know that the first act at The Mob Museum, the National Museum of was for the City of Las Vegas to acquire this. It had Organized Crime and Law Enforcement been the first federal post office and courthouse in Las Vegas. The federal government decided around been a priority at the museum that we develop good the turn of the century that they did not want to relationships with the FBI, the DEA, the Secret Service, keep the building. They were looking to get rid of it the IRS criminal division, the Marshals service. All of and the City of Las Vegas identified at the time this these agencies have been incredibly helpful to us over building as something that could be a great addition the years not only in providing artifacts but contacts, for downtown redevelopment. Oscar Goodman was people who know a lot. Really the FBI has been the mayor at the time and he strongly supported the incredibly helpful in that area. city acquiring the building. So once they acquired the building for a dollar, there were two conditions on that How else did the Museum source memorabilia for acquisition. One was that it needed to maintain the its collection? historic integrity of the building. They couldn’t just turn That’s an ongoing task but artifacts come our way in it into a Seven-Eleven. The other thing they needed to a variety of forms. Sometimes people will just call and do was employ it for some kind of cultural use. It could want to donate something to us: a family heirloom or not be a commercial enterprise. It needed to be an art some kind of item that they’ve found in a closet. So gallery or a performing arts center or a museum. we have donations. We also acquire objects through purchase. We participate in auctions, we scan eBay Once the city acquired the building, ideas started and other auction sites, and we’re connected with bubbling up about “What do we want to do?” Oscar collectors around the country to acquire objects. Then Goodman said, “It should be a museum dedicated to the third area is loans. There’s a number of people the subject of organized crime.” At first some people who have agreed to loan objects for long-term display loved this idea, some did not. [chuckles] They were in the Museum. We’re not buying them, they’re not concerned that this museum would either be some donating them, they’re loaning them free of charge to kind of museum to Oscar or that it would glorify crime help tell the stories we have at the Museum. That’s in some way. an ongoing process that started before the Museum opened and as recently as today I’ve been working on How important was it to enlist federal law artifact acquisitions. enforcement as participants in the Museum? What kind of materials did that open up? When Oscar had the challenge of people that were concerned that this museum would glorify the Mob, he very cleverly thought that what he needed was a partner in crime, so to speak. He needed someone who could represent the law-enforcement side of the equation to help balance this story. So he asked Ellen Knowlton, who was the recently departed special agent in charge of the FBI office in Las Vegas to come on as the committee chairperson of what ultimately became the board of the Museum. And she agreed to do that. The working premise at that point was that this would be a museum about organized crime but it would equally be a museum about how law enforcement responded to organized crime. So it helps to fill out the story in a really helpful way and Ellen certainly insisted on that and became the champion for that. In terms of opening up resources, that has always Volume 17: Issue 147 43

Feature: Mob Museum What would you like to add in the future? 1929. By the same token, we have artifacts related to We know that there are collectors across the country the prosecution of Al Capone on tax-evasion charges and the world who have artifacts that would be that help us to illustrate that story. Anytime we can wonderful for us to be able to display in the Museum. find an object that helps our guests to appreciate what These would be family heirlooms linked to infamous really happened we’re definitely going for it. organized-crime figures, whether they’re guns or more personal – objects that are related to a particular What determines which narratives you choose to event. We also know that there are evidence vaults all reconstruct? over the United States that law-enforcement agencies I spend a lot of time thinking about what’s in the maintain, that have potential objects for display. Some Museum and what’s missing, and what we’d like to of those are impossible to get or nearly impossible add. Now there’s a finite amount of space. A lot of because they’re in evidence and police departments times what we’re talking about is prioritizing story. are not likely to just hand them out. However, we’ve Which are the most important stories we want our been working on this for some time and we’ve guests to be exposed to as they go through the opportunities to acquire some of these kinds of Museum? That’s not easy. That’s a judgment call. objects from law enforcement on loan or what have A lot of times we may choose a particular story you. So that’s another area of interest. because we have really great artifacts associated with it. Another story that we like we have no artifacts What we’re always looking are artifacts that help us to support it and so we choose not to include that. to tell the story. We’re not looking to just warehouse What I can tell you is what we want to do is give our objects and have this scatterbrained kind of approach, guests as complete as possible narrative of the origins a little bit of everything. Rather, we are interested in of organized crime in America up to the current day. objects that help us to tell us the stories that we want We sometimes will touch on things in great depth, to tell. One of our prized artifacts is the St. Valentine’s sometimes very lightly. But we want to be as inclusive Day Massacre wall. Having those bricks from the wall of as many perspectives on this story as possible. on display in the Museum enhances our ability to tell There’s no way we can tell the whole organized crime that story about what happened on that fateful day in 44 www.casinolifemagazine.com

Feature: Mob Museum story in this museum space. There’s just not enough room. It’s a very rich history that we’re learning new things about every day. But we just try to get the most important and most interesting points for guests to experience over the hour and a half or two hours that they’re in the Museum. I can vouch for the comprehensiveness. I spent three hours there and only got as far as the JFK assassination. [Laughs] Well there you go. You’re an in-depth museum-goer and that’s great. What are the most popular exhibits and why? historic building an expand the offerings there. So the Certainly two of the most popular exhibits are related basement was the logical place to do that. Second, to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. So first of all you when you think about a basement and you think about have the bricks from the wall against which the seven the Prohibition era, it immediately comes to mind men were shot. That is a visual that most guests leave that’s a place where you might hide a speakeasy. It the Museum talking about. On a related note, we also might hide a distillery. have evidence from the crime scene, including bullets that were removed from the bodies of the victims by We thought our guests were getting a heavy dose the coroner. That exhibit as well is among the most of the Prohibition era on the third floor because popular that we have. On the second floor, the Las that was such a pivotal period of time for the Mob’s Vegas exhibits featuring the period from the 1940s growth. Why not give them an experience in the to the 1980s are among the most popular. We have basement where it has the look and feel and vibe a vast array of artifacts connected to the Flamingo of a Prohibition-era speakeasy? Initially, we always hotel and its origins. That’s a newer exhibit, opened in envisioned a working bar there but the way it has August. They’re one-of-a-kind artifacts that help us tell developed over time, the uses of that space have the story of Billy Wilkerson conceiving the idea for the grown so greatly from our original vision. It’s no Flamingo and then Bugsy Siegel ultimately executing longer a place to go as part of the exhibition and the project—before being executed himself. you order one drink and leave. Now, on a Friday and Saturday night, we have live music: Prohibition-era Down in the Underground, which is where we have jazz music that’s played in the space. We also have our Speakeasy and Distillery exhibits, we have an our monthly whiskey-club events where we have array of exhibits that help us tell the story of what brand ambassadors come in and talk about different happened in Prohibition, in Las Vegas and beyond. kinds of whiskey. The Speakeasy is a big place to be We’re really proud of that and I think guests appreciate on Halloween, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day. It’s now the fact that our Speakeasy is not a bar that happens become a destination for people. to have a particular decor. It’s an exhibit that actually has a bar in there. You can learn a lot in there if you choose to do so on a Friday night. What was the inspiration for the speakeasy and its Museum-branded moonshine? First of all, we knew—going back to 2016 when we first started developing ideas—that the basement, which at that time we were using as office space, had the potential to allow us to grow our exhibitions. Our guests were coming in larger numbers every year. We were looking for ways to take our existing Volume 17: Issue 148 45

Feature: Mob Museum What manner of events does the Museum present and how well are they attended? A big part of what we do is public programming. We bring in an array of speakers. We set up panel discussions and we set up other events related to the history of organized crime—and also contemporary crime and law enforcement issues. We have a very robust programming schedule: 15 to 175 programs per year. The most fundamental would be if an author publishes a new book about organized crime history and we invite that author to come and speak about it. On a more ambitious level, we often have panel discussions on historical issues. So we’re very busy with public programming. It’s a way for our local guests to have new reasons to come to the Museum. It also, in many cases, when we have a really big event, will bring in people from all over the country. Attendance can range from a modest 40 or 50 people for an author talk in midweek to upwards of 120, 130 people—which would be capacity in the courtroom— for a panel discussion or some other big event. We also do private events. In the courtroom and other spaces we have weddings, we have proms, we have company parties and just a range of things that kind of fit with the theme of the Museum. The distillery followed on the idea of a speakeasy. Do visitors come away with a changed perception The notion of making moonshine in the basement was of Las Vegas’ history? what we saw as a logical extension of the Speakeasy. When visitors spend time in the museum, whether it’s So if we’re going to show you what a speakeasy an hour to three hours, I think they leave with a few looked like and we’re going to provide liquor, we ought thoughts in mind. One is that we’re a very serious- to also be able to show people what moonshining minded museum. A lot of people will come in from looked like. How did these mobsters make moonshine out of town or what have you. They don’t really know back in the 1920s? So we decided, Why don’t we much about it. They buy a ticket on a lark or maybe make our own? Kind of like the time Oscar Goodman because somebody recommended it to them and came up with the original idea for the Mob Museum they’re not sure what to expect. But when they end up and there was pushback on that. The original idea for experiencing the exhibits in the Museum, they come the distillery was, Boy, who’s ever going to allow us away impressed with the seriousness of it, the fact to do that? Isn’t that a crazy idea? But before long that we do not glorify the Mob, that we tell a balanced we made the argument with the city that this is a very story. And they learn a lot about what really happened, logical thing for us to do here. We can do it safely versus what you see in the movies sometimes. As and it’s a perfect connection to the Museum. We far as Las Vegas history is concerned, they will walk obtained all the proper permits and we obtained the away with a better appreciation for the history of Las best equipment that we could, and we trained our staff Vegas, going back to its origins, and you learn about and started making moonshine. To this day we make it all of that in our museum, even though we’re focused every day and demand exceeds supply. on organized crime, we want our guests to understand the history of Las Vegas as well, so we work hard to make sure you not only learn the Mob story but you also learn the city’s story equally. 46 www.casinolifemagazine.com

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