Behind every casino lies an incredible team of dedicated employees tasked with maintaining its safety, customer service and operations.
Casino management is an intricate and challenging endeavor. Similar to managing hotels or restaurants, but with specific considerations specific to gambling establishments.
Security
Casinos employ numerous security measures in order to safeguard customers and employees against the threat of fraud, theft, or other crimes. This may include installing surveillance cameras, enforcing responsible gambling regulations, using special player tracking software to keep track of player activity, as well as offering training sessions on how to identify potential threats and respond effectively.
Modern casinos typically employ both physical security professionals who patrol the floors to address calls for assistance or suspicious activity and an expert surveillance department utilizing state-of-the-art closed circuit television systems known as an eye in the sky for monitoring more subtle attempts to cheat or break casino rules – in large casinos on Las Vegas’ Strip this could number over 2,000 cameras linked with 50 monitors.
Casino security programs can assist in thwarting card counters by closely watching chip movements on the table and identifying those counting cards, so management can relocate the table, remove offending players and deactivate any stolen chips.
Hospitality
Hospitality is an ancient art that encompasses friendliness and generosity. It has long been practiced across cultures worldwide. While definitions vary, hospitality generally means being kind, warm, welcoming, giving things people need when away from home, etc.
Like managers in other customer-service businesses, casino management professionals work tirelessly to ensure customers have a positive experience at the casino. Additionally, they must hire, train and schedule employees; forecast business trends; provide quality service; and predict any upcoming customer issues that might arise.
Casino resorts must take stringent hygiene measures to protect guests’ health and prevent transmission of the flu virus, including conducting body temperature testing for employees and providing free hygiene kits (with masks and disinfectant) for guests. In addition, monitoring capacity to ensure there are enough places for players is also key to this practice, while strict rules limiting how many people may play each table game are also enforced.
Gaming
Casinos strive to provide the highest levels of customer service, and are dedicated to keeping clients satisfied and coming back. Casino managers oversee loyalty programs offering everything from complimentary drinks and hotel stays, to comped drinks. In addition, they may oversee hiring and training of employees working on the gaming floor such as dealers for table games or slot machines.
State regulators regulate the casino industry closely. Casino owners, top managers, and board members must undergo extensive background checks and financial records reviews before being granted a license to operate.
Casinos rely on advanced technology to monitor activities within their premises and reduce instances of fraud, theft and collusion. Data modelling tools enable them to detect when players appear close to losing their bet and send a complimentary drink or hotel stay as an incentive – saving both players time and money!
Management
Management measures in casinos are taken to ensure smooth facility operation and fair play, such as policies on gaming rules, guest relationships, monitoring practices, risk management practices, reliance and record-keeping practices, record keeping needs and internal communication needs. Casino owners develop these policies in consultation with gaming operational management service providers.
Casino managers also oversee policies, oversee the gaming area and oversee operations of table games and slot machines, handle customer complaints and promote excellent customer service while adhering to all governmental regulations.
This question tests candidates on their ability to devise strategies that maximize profits while increasing revenues and customer satisfaction. For instance, managers might advise upgrading loyalty programs as one way of attracting and keeping patrons.
An effective casino manager must be flexible and open to exploring new ideas. While casino managers sometimes get the reputation for being unpleasant, veteran slot manager Buddy Frank says the most successful ones tend to be engaging and friendly.
