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From the Showboat Atlantic City Photograph Collection (PH-00329).

Casino in the Mint Hotel, downtown Las Vegas.

David Rohn was born in Durango, Colorado and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. He attended Parkland College, the University of Illinois and Wichita State University before starting in the arcade industry in 1980 with the Lemans Family Fun Centers. Rohn entered the gaming industry by assisting with the preopening of the Colorado Grande and eventually became a slot manager at that property. He later moved to Johnny Nolon’s Casino to become assistant general manager. Rohn resumed his slot career at Konocti Vista Casino in California for a short period of time before going to the Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino as a slot floor worker. Rohn currently holds the position of director of slot operations at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, Oregon. The interview with Rohn begins with his discussion of his work in arcades and his eventual work in slots along with those duties at the various properties. Rohn describes what he believes makes a good slot manager, specifically when considering customers and employees. He then provides his philosophy on what he believes customers are looking for in casinos, and he describes his approach to laying out a slot floor. Rohn discusses his relationship and interaction with vendors for getting slot machines to the floor, and he also mentions how the slot department works with other areas of the casino. He goes on to discuss how slot operations have changed over time, particularly through ticket-in ticket-out and the use of free play. He then provides his outlook on what the future of the slot industry will look like, specifically in skill-based gaming and downloadable games. The interview concludes with Rohn’s discussion of his personal gambling as it relates to being a good slot manager, and he provides advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.