Casino Connection Nevada

Moving Up, Moving On

by Roger Gros

There’s no doubt about the opportunities afforded to casino employees and executives in the Nevada gaming industry. The growth continues unabated, in all regions of the state. Las Vegas continues to grow as huge projects like MGM Mirage’s CityCenter, Boyd Gaming’s Echelon, Wynn’s Encore and Las Vegas Sands’ Palazzo roll along, immediately creating thousands of construction jobs and later, upon opening, even more operations positions. In Reno, Station Casinos is building a new resort. Several areas of Reno are experiencing a remarkable revival and casino expansion. Mesquite is booming and a new resort, Solstice, promises to take the market to the next level. Casino ownership in Laughlin is changing almost weekly, promising a new dynamic in that growing market. And wherever growth comes, opportunity follows.

If you’re in Nevada, you’re in the place to be. Experience is golden and whether you choose to move up within your organization or take a shot for a new company, the only thing that limits your advancement is your ambition and your education. And there’s no reason there should be any limits.

For many people, taking the next step means making a move to another jurisdiction. While there is plenty of opportunity in Nevada, with the growth of gaming across the country and, indeed, around the world, the experience you gain in gaming’s capital makes you that much more valuable in new jurisdictions.

One jurisdiction we feature in this issue is Macau. Many of the executives and employees of the Venetian in Las Vegas contributed mightily to the successful opening of the property’s namesake in Macau. And with the competition really heating up in Macau, your experience with the competitive pressures in Nevada is invaluable.

We also feature ways you can move away from Vegas without really getting away. Our cover story, “Get Out of Town,” discusses nearby “bedroom communities” that allow you to get more for your money in a house and become part of towns that are just starting to make their mark on southern Nevada, while maintaining your job in Las Vegas.

My personal favorite is Boulder City, a town with more of a Midwestern feel to it than the gritty company town that housed the workers who built the Hoover Dam. With no casinos, a slow growth philosophy and an attention to the history of the town, Boulder City is the most un-Nevada-like of all the bedroom communities mentioned in the article. If escaping the creeping urbanism of Las Vegas is your goal, please consider these communities as an option for a different kind of lifestyle.

One thing we have in Nevada, that no other state has, is sports betting. It’s a great pastime and makes watching sporting events that much more enjoyable. Did you know that Nevada’s sports books are undergoing a kind of mini-boom? Read Dave Bontempo’s piece on page 40 to learn what’s behind this increasing popularity.

Another betting option we review this month is IGT’s new Guaranteed Play at the video poker machines at all Station Casinos properties. A fascinating concept that may change the way the industry “prices” its products and services, Guaranteed Play gives video poker players more hands for their dollars. We’ll offer the opinions of experts and casual players in future issues, so please don’t hesitate to contact me and express your views.

And we’re gearing up for our big January issue where we list the “People to Watch” for 2008 in Nevada. If you have any nominations for this prestigious list, please drop me a line at rgros@ggbmagazine.com and make your suggestions.