Where did you grow up, and how did it shape your interests?
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. In the Slavic Village area, to be exact. I played sports all of my life and knew that I wanted to be a sports journalist. My radio and television career provided me the chance to cover big events like The Masters, the Ohio State Buckeyes National Championship Game against Miami, and the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers championship runs.
My love of Cleveland and Cleveland sports fueled my passion for the industry I chose to work in. I also played football, basketball, and baseball in high school, then baseball in college. Sports are a big part of my life.
The reason I love covering the casino and sports betting industries is because of my Dad. He loved betting on sports and going to the casino so much. We would always take him to the casino at least once a year, and he had me and my brothers betting on football games for as long as I can remember.
My fondest casino memory is playing video poker with him by my side and landing a royal flush. I’ll never forget asking him if I should throw out the cards I chose, he agreed, and said “Hit it.” I hit the button and the machine went nuts. I miss him, dearly.
What did you study in school or university? Did it influence your career?
I have a Communications degree. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work in television or radio, which has now shifted to digital. It definitely influenced my career choice(s) because it gave me a broader perspective of the industry—not just media (TV, radio, newspapers).
If you weren’t involved in casino content, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
Now that I am no longer coaching my son’s teams, in my spare time I host a studio show and provide play-by-play for high school football and basketball for a local radio station and Spectrum News 1 Ohio.
I love calling games- the immediacy and getting to react to the action as the fans do. It’s a lot of fun. So, I would probably be doing a radio show or PxP for some team, somewhere, if I didn’t fall in love with the editorial side of the industry. Either THAT, or coaching.
Casino Experience & Gaming Preferences
How did you first get into casino gaming?
From sports betting and my Dad’s love of casino gaming, I developed a fondness for games of chance. Casinos always remind me of my Dad. That’s why I love them.
Do you consider yourself more of a casual player or a serious strategist?
I am definitely a casual casino player. I like Blackjack and roulette the most, but I am all in on sports betting. I’ve been doing it for a long time. Researching, looking at the trends, etc. It all goes back to my Dad. We’d sit there together on a Friday night looking over the lines and trends for Saturday college football games and Sunday NFL.
One of the guests we had on a radio show left me this book of trends one time. I brought it home for my Dad. He loved it. Filled in all of the scores each week, always studied who did what ATS or SU. It was a lot of fun.
Writing & Industry Expertise
How did you get started in writing about casinos and gambling?
I have always been in an editorial role, even at the marketing agency I worked for, but when sports betting was legalized and most states also started adding casinos, I figured that would be a good industry to cover.
It’s essentially in its infancy.
So, I started freelancing for a site, covering the casino and sports betting industries. I apply the same approach I used as a television news/sports producer. A good story is a good story.
What’s the biggest challenge in writing about the casino industry?
The biggest challenge covering the casino industry is that no state is the same. Not all states have legalized gambling, or online casinos. Other states have sweepstakes casinos, but some are trying to ban them.
You have to be careful about which state allows which types of gambling, so it keeps you on your toes.
The other challenge is understanding all of the games that are played, but it’s fun learning about them for a story.
Casino Industry Insights & Trends
Do you think online casinos will overtake land-based casinos in popularity?
I don’t think that online casinos will ever replace traditional casinos, but they do have their place. I don’t think there’s any other way to experience a casino than being inside one.
The bells, whistles, dings, people cheering at the craps table—it’s irreplaceable. But for people who can no longer get out to a casino, at least they can still experience the thrill, even if they are sitting on their own couch.
Fun & Personalized Questions
Have you ever had a funny or bizarre casino encounter?
I am a huge Barry Manilow fan. Yes, I’m a Fanilow. The fan club chose me to be in the audience of the taping of “The Barry Manilow Christmas Special” at The Westgate.
I got to go to Las Vegas to watch both tapings. They do two tapings and take the best songs/segments from each show to make one performance. It was a lot of fun.
Barry is the man!
