ORLANDO RIVERA
Bayamon,PR
Summary
Seasoned Casino & Gaming Professional with 20+ years of diversified experience in executive and management positions across diverse B2C and government service-driven sectors. Knowledgeable about sales, operations, and personnel management. Successful at stepping into diverse positions and making immediate positive contributions. Focused on optimizing operations and motivating employees while increasing sales, cutting costs, and restructuring operations. Results- and entrepreneurial-oriented, decisive leader with proven success in new market identification, strategic thinking, and problem solving.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Casino General Manager
Blue Dolphin Casino
06.2023 - 12.2023
- Managed all casino operations and the Gaming Department team.
- Helped safeguard company assets located within the casino.
- Developed long-range plans and budgets for department.
- Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
- Assisted with investigations on variances, violations, and statistical reports.
- Monitored department compliance by developing and enforcing corrective measures.
- Supervised, coordinated, and developed statistical data for gaming budgets, gaming trends/analysis, forecasts, projections, and guest profiles.
- Attended to any guest disputes that were not resolved by Shift Manager or departmental managers and supervisors.
- Mentored each gaming department manager in the identification of operational problems and assisted them in implementing policies and procedures to resolve them.
- Evaluated games reports, staff, and operations to ensure continuity of efficient and effective gaming operations.
- Oversaw regulatory incident reports and audits by ensuring timely responses, development of action plans, and implementation of corrective action.
- Advised and briefed the Assistant General Manager on day-to-day operations.
- Worked closely with the casino owner and the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission.
Executive Director
Puerto Rico Gaming Comission
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, and endorsed by the Senate of Puerto Rico, due to outstanding performance and expertise on gaming and business background, to serve as change agent for the areas of operation, finance, general services, licensing, and investigations, to ensure mission of strengthening the gaming industry for the Gambling Bureau, Horse Racing Bureau, Sports Betting Bureau, Slots Machines in Routes Bureau to comply with the Puerto Rico Government Gaming Commission Act 81 of 2019 and regulations.
- Ensured law compliances and protected the trust and investment of the betting through effective management.
- Managed and authorized Agency capital purchase orders, inscription of new business, new off-betting certifications, and approved promotional/marketing materials for industry activities.
- Directed planning; defined agency fiscal, operational, and staffing agency’s improvements and led numerous CAPEX initiatives
- Supervised 236 employees, which included 50 members of Union de Tronquistas (901) and 60 AIJA—Gaming Inspectors Association.
- Reorganized administrative operations, recruited Finance and Human Resources Director at no cost, adopted interagency employees in compliance with Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority and OGP.
- Achieved the approval of the Betting Committee Act for Betting on sports events, horse races, fantasy sports contests and e-sports
- Slot Machines in Route Bureau: Directed the regulation plan for the Slot Machines on the Route, granted 111 Wholesale Owner licenses and registered 11K business, resulting in $7.5MM in collection.
- Directed the efforts of persuading the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB), Puerto Rico Department of Treasury, and the Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget (OGP) for the allocation of $3M in Capex to the Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico.
- Developed a detailed financial plan and sourced $3M funding from the Financial Oversight and Management Board of PR for operational expenses and Capex initiatives
- Enforced Gaming Law to 2K businesses and concurrently introduced law enforcement initiatives targeting illegal slots machines, captured $300K in fines
- Spearheaded casino’s licensing approvals leading in the inauguration of Foxwoods El San Juan Casino, Embassy Suite Dorado, Aloft Ponce, Hampton Inn Ponce, and Marriott Ponce.
- Leveraged marketing expertise to project managed the “Encanto Puerto Rico Jackpot” marketing plan
- Headed the draft of the Regulations for the Equestrian Sports Negotiation.
- Conceptualized the Adjudicative Procedure Regulation and the Confiscation Regulation drafts
- Led efficiencies projects by updating the Commission’s digital platform and digital innovation projects
- Proposed and initiated RFP’s with 8 companies to interface slots machines revenues with the Treasury Department distributing tax returns in 50% for the Police Department Retirement Plan, 45% for municipalities and 5% for agency’s Opex, forecasted $1Billion in collection
- Sports Betting, E-Sports and Fantasy Contests Bureau: Leveraged business skills to initiate negotiations and develop new casinos with Worldwide leading
- Betting Books Companies: Draft King-Hotel San Juan, Fandul Enterprise -Ponce Plaza Hotel, Sportium a Cirsa subsidiary and Blackstone- The Outlet 66 Shopping Mall, Caesar Sport -Sheraton Casino and Betcris and Bollers (Puerto Rico Company). Secured license deposit of $500 and licensed approval of $50K per investor.
- Horse Racing Bureau: Introduced licensing and certification to groomers, exercise riders, farriers, and trainers. Executed audit of all 620 off-track betting outlets, bringing units into regulatory compliance. Celebrated the “Clasico del Caribe 2021” event after 5-years hiatus. Achieved accreditation of the Horse-Riding Vocational School-Agustin Mercado Reveron.
- Gambling Bureau: Successfully closed negotiations for the opening of 5 Casinos Condado Plaza, Embassy Suites, Aloft Ponce, Hampton Inn once and Marriott, generated 300 employments and $60M income. Led business continuity during Covid-19 Pandemic shut down, generating $400M in revenues.
- Saved commissions $360K in lease expenses by relocating administrative offices.
- Headed and negotiated collective bargain agreements with the Union de Tronquistas (901), Gaming Inspectors Association (AIJA)
- Submitted and advocated for the approval of the Law PS 723- Capitalized on Commissions’ revenues for operational self-funding and Law PS Law Enforcement integration during Commissions raids
- Strategically focused efforts on developing business with The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for the establishment of tribe’s first outside- reserve casino at Foxwoods El San Juan Casino with an investment of $12.5M in casino and property development.
Casino Inspector Supervisor
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
01.2004 - 01.2021
- Supervised team of 82 unionized casino inspectors monitoring, auditing, and verifying casino operations, control systems, equipment, assets, and payout of winnings for 19 licensed casinos located throughout Puerto Rico operating 24/7.
- Ensured casinos were in strict compliance with Games of Chance Act, Act No 221, Tourism Company rules and regulations governing gaming operations in Puerto Rico.
- Enforced casino asset reporting regulations.
- Addressed and resolved problems, violations or controversies that may affect casino operations within limited timeframe.
- Ensured adequate inspector coverage and provided substitutes in line with collective bargaining agreement.
- Received incentive bonus for perfect attendance.
Latin American Marketing Manager
Wyndham Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Managed full P&L, strategic planning and marketing responsibilities for Puerto Rico's leading casino facility generating $15 million in revenues annually.
- Identified business opportunities in local and Latin American markets, directed Hotel and Casino promotions, established / managed budgets, scheduled room blocks and monitored service quality
- Increased the number of international representatives 300%
- Met previous year revenue numbers despite the collapse of the Venezuelan, Mexican and Argentinean economies.
- Grew US Hispanic casino players through the creation of innovative incentives and a centralized rep-network during a period of decreased travel outside US boundaries.
International Junket Agent
Orlando International Marketing
01.1998 - 01.2003
Local Marketing Manager
El San Juan Hotel & Casino
01.1997 - 01.1998
Latin American Marketing Manager
Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.1994 - 01.1997
Casino Floor Supervisor
Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.1990 - 01.1994
Casino Croupier
El San Juan Hotel & Casino
01.1987 - 01.1989
- BlackJack
- Roulette
- Craps
- Baccarat
- Mini-Baccarat
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration, Minor in Marketing
Columbia Central University
Caguas, PR12.1996
Skills
- Operations Oversight
- P&L Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Project and Team Management
- Business Development
- Budget Administration
- Bilingual
Accomplishments
- Gambling Americas Meet Ups, “I am Speaking at #GAQ1Virtual
- SBC Summit Latino America – evolution
- SAGSE TALKS
Certification
UNLV Certified: Financial and Background Investigation Techniques, Slot Machine Performance Analysis, Sports Betting and Compulsive Gambling
Licenses
- The Gaming Division of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company | Gambling Division Dealer License #0873
- Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration | Commercial Pilot and Multi-Engine and Instrument Lic. #3845135
Timeline
Casino General Manager
Blue Dolphin Casino
06.2023 - 12.2023
Executive Director
Puerto Rico Gaming Comission
01.2021 - 05.2022
Casino Inspector Supervisor
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
01.2004 - 01.2021
Latin American Marketing Manager
Wyndham Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.2002 - 01.2003
International Junket Agent
Orlando International Marketing
01.1998 - 01.2003
Local Marketing Manager
El San Juan Hotel & Casino
01.1997 - 01.1998
Latin American Marketing Manager
Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.1994 - 01.1997
Casino Floor Supervisor
Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino
01.1990 - 01.1994
Casino Croupier
El San Juan Hotel & Casino
01.1987 - 01.1989
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration, Minor in Marketing
Columbia Central University
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