Inside the Changing World of U.S. Gambling

Chris Garrow, Gaming Operations Director, Prairie Band Casino & Resort

Legalized online gambling is relatively new to the US. Currently, only New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and West Virginia have done so, with Delaware being the first in 2012. With the passage of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, commonly referred to as PASPA, states and tribes were allowed to potentially offer online sports betting, some with online slots and table games. Many states have launched online sports betting but have not legalized online casinos.

It’s important to mention tribal gaming when it comes to online gambling and gaming in general. When the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law in 1988, it allowed recognized tribes to negotiate compacts with the states in which their reservations are located. Most states weren’t friendly with tribes and would not negotiate a compact with them in good faith. What I mean by not negotiating in good faith is that some states forced tribes to give them a percentage of their revenue or give up their rights to offer Class II gaming. Some states are so conservative, they won’t negotiate a Class III compact with the tribes. In an earlier article, I explained the difference between the classes of gambling. Slot vendors got creative and made Class II bingo-based slot machines. Class II slot machines are based on bingo math, unlike Class III slot machines, which are based on the Random Number Generator, or RNG.

“Working in the gaming industry, specifically in gaming operations, is fun and exciting. There are never two days that are the same”

All legalized gambling, whether it is online sports betting or slots and table games, is heavily regulated. Tribal gaming is subject to additional layers of regulation. Offshore online gambling is dangerous and illegal for gamblers located in the United States. These offshore sites are not regulated like they are in the US.

With all types of gambling mentioned above, player development is key to a casino’s success. Player development is a department within a gambling establishment that has a team of hosts whose job is to encourage highworth guests to share more of their gambling wallet at their casino. They can offer amenities such as complimentary food and beverages, shows, hotel rooms, and spa services, all within the casino’s property, to entice those gamblers to visit the casino more often. Those gamblers must play with a player’s card so the casinos can see what those gamblers are spending. These high-worth gamblers are usually assigned to a host. Their hosts generally do a great job of getting to know the gamblers that are assigned to them. Many hosts build personal relationships with their gamblers and get to know personal details, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and their preferences for rooms in the hotel, restaurants they prefer to eat at, etc. A host needs to understand each guest’s individual needs and keep track of them.

Working in the gaming industry, specifically in gaming operations, is fun and exciting. There are never two days that are the same. I’ve been in gaming, both tribal and commercial, for just over 30 years, and I’ve seen a lot. From multi-million-dollar jackpots to closing our casinos down during the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked at Monte Carlo, now Park MGM, when there was a fire. I’ve seen a few casinos being imploded, which can be sad but exciting as well. Money can bring out the worst in people, but also the best.