Welcome Robert F Griffin to MTR Gaming CEO Spot

MTR Gaming will have a new front man soon! According to this article: http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/514613.html, Robert F. Griffin will be taking over the helm no later than January 2nd, 2009. He replaces Ted Arneault, the 13 year casino operations veteran who was instrumental in securing table gaming at MTR's "flagship" property Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, in Chester, WV. Some of the details of his "signing" bonus are listed, heavy on the stock options side of things.

Recently MTR Gaming stocks have fallen in value, with many pointing a finger at Arneault, but frankly everyone and everything in the stock market is taking a beating right now. I'd be willing to wager Arneault's compensation package will likely be quite beefy as he makes his exit for all his efforts in marketing and government relations.

When I finally head north, to visit the Mountaineer Casino... maybe I'll stop in just to say whassup to Mr. Griffin. "Yo Bobby, it's me cheer_dad, howsabout some cocktails over here on table 1!" Yeah, I'm sure that'll be the absolute 'best' approach. Nonetheless Mr. Griffin, congratulations on the new position! You're not looking for an all-too-chatty blogger to help get the word out about Mountaineer Casino are you?!? = )

Regards,

cheer_dad

Uber posting time my minions

It's been many moons since my last post, but to be absent from the blog is to be present in the depths of the workforce! TGIF has never sounded so good to me. I've had enough. I spent the vast majority of my waking hours at work dealing with a server security initiative that was dropped in our lap. First, let me get some acronyms out of the way for you. (Oh yeah, you know the gub-ment just luvs it some abbreviations.)

CIS = The Center for Internet Security

NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology

The agency which I find myself employed with has mandated (or has had it mandated upon them) compliance with security configurations as outlined by CIS and NIST. The lines between those two "initial-sporting" agencies is blurry to say the least. Let's just say that standards and best practices for securing computers/servers/ and the applications and data which reside on them is admittedly of absolute importance. I take it serious. Very Serious! This week I've proven my obsessive nature, and dug into the utter bowels of the method behind the madness. Yes, my inner-geek has been fully embraced and given the reach around to boot!

What CIS and NIST establishes are the benchmark solutions for locking the computer world down. They formalize standards and best-practices, and analyze the hell out of the pros and cons for each configuration setting. This all sounds really great doesn't it. I'm with you, I'm all about tightening the screws down, and locking her down... but here's where things get messy. CIS and NIST think tanks have a degree of common sense, and readily assert that some of their settings have NEGATIVE IMPACT on some applications and technologies. So, they point out degrees of security and what trade offs must be faced. Unfortunately, in the "real-world"... managerial types don't tend to read the FUCKING FINE PRINT!!! Instead they treat these benchmarks as absolutes, and demand total compliance and adherence to standards they have no hope of understanding! And thus pass off to the underlings in the trenches (that'd be your lowly civil servant "cheer_dad") and say get it done... and not only get it done, do it faster than the speed of light AND then prove that you did it in a simple report, and while you're at it report on that in the form of a monthly compliancy check. Are any of you still with me so far? Well thanks, but I fear for your mental well-being.

Anyway, so someone other than the administrators gets to make the decisions about what will be done, and the tools to be used for verification and the report that they'll get in the end. As luck would have it, we've been directed to use the CIS-CAT or the Configuration Assessment Tool. OOOOh AAAAh!!! Before demanding its usage... no one in the agency really bothered to take it out for a test drive. NOW, I applaud the tool in some areas, but like a lot of things in life it still needs some work. But time is not a luxury that I really have, since despite the problems being encountered, the demands and the deadlines have NOT SHIFTED in the least.

So, I've had to educate myself quickly (down and dirty) on a compliance tool I just had thrown at me, on a project I just inherited, which is looking at new standards that are frankly a moving target. They are ever-morphing to make things more and more secure. The powers that be in the organization, simply want the check marks in place right next to the dotted i's and crossed t's. I know, I know... cheer_dad quitcherbitchin'!!! I'd say it's enough to drive me to drinking, but that's a habit that well we've established I'd long/long ago acquired and refined to the level of High Art!

I've gotten pretty good at setting up the tool and making it run in ways that many others have not. And I've put it through paces that I don't think anyone else bothered with. I've been in contact with one of the Developers of the tool and she's been great, and very receptive to feedback and suggestions and to her I am VERY GRATEFUL! Thanks Nancy! But even she recognizes where some improvements can be made. My management or the BIG GUY beating the drum at the front of this little slave ship... doesn't need to or want to hear much of it though. I'm still hearing a lot of this work harder, better, longer, faster, and be perfectly accurate.

Lucky for me I'm beginning to see at least some light at the end of the tunnel on this and along the way have picked up some valuable allies in my plight. Eventually I do believe this will get better. Eventually I think I can help to make it work better. I also think I'll have a decided impact on how secure things can be, and more to the management point... documentable. I'm learning more lately that it's more about the process than the result, at least in this stage of the game that we're in.

Anyway, I've bored you, thanks for listening, but feel free to pat me on the back and buy me a drink at the bar to congratulate my efforts. Remember, I'm with the government and I'm here to help you! (You are all so in trouble!)

While I've been away from the blogosphere though, the world has continued to spin on its axis. I've tried to play some cards online to keep my sanity at night, before heading back to work. But that hasn't been all that pretty. JR and I have been trading bad beat stories each morning when we first get to work. We've both had Kings and Aces stories to swap. JR really got to feel the warm and squishy feeling when he got it all in with pocket rockets, only to meet up against someone else's pocket rockets, and then watch as 4 cards line up all pretty like on the board of the same suit... as his opponents ACE and not his. Checks on table friggin' ONE!!! Ouch buddy, I've had that happen to me. I'd tell you I feel your pain, but frankly I don't feel like feeling that sick right now. I can do without the feeling of having my nuts yanked off! : ) I've dropped $$$ considerably, but ehhh, I've been here before. Feel the grind of the tilt-o-whirl!

In other corners of the web, there have been some really cool things that have happened that only this evening have I been able to catch up with. So, here goes:

Hillary Clinton took the state of West Virginia in the primary election. (cheer_dad shudders!) I wish I could tell you I was excited about someone running for the top office... but I'm not. I've got something not to like about all the contenders. But frankly... Hillary Clinton just friggin' scares me. People that power hungry need it, want it, and will do anything to get and keep it! In the words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I've got to say about that."

Still close to home, MTR Gaming Group (headquartered in Chester, WV) has appointed a new CFO and Executive Vice President, David R. Hughes. He's no stranger to MTR, having worked with them since 2003, in other capacities, but in total brings 24 years of experience in the gaming industry to the proverbial table. He replaces Edson R. (Ted) Arneault who recently announced that he was stepping down. Read all about it here.

According to this article from the AP Wire that I just found, Charles Barkley could be facing charges on failing to pay back $400,000 in casino markers to the Wynn Casino. Hmmm. IDIOT! Jock/celebrity that didn't do much for me before, and now does even less. If you can't pay, don't play. When you can pay, and don't... shame on you!

This article from Pokerlistings.com let me know that GSN is opting NOT to renew "High Stakes Poker." Thank goodness they'll be able to get back to showing those reruns of Family Feud! Oh wait, I forgot one thing... friggin' 'tards!

Pennsylvania is conducting hearings on House Bill 2121 which would allow Pennsylvania to enter the "casino table gaming" market. Recall it's been only a few months that the state of WV opened table games at existing racetracks... 2 of which are VERY near to PA, and causing residents to make a run for the border. Read all about it here.

Well, it's time to wrap up. I hope this makes up for my absence. Hope you all understand. I'll see many of you tomorrow night at JR's for our latest in the NDPT series. Not just cash folks there's points for this one too! : ) I for one could use a little (or a lot) of both!

Regards,

cheer_dad

An evening's ramble, with sincere finish

I ask you... is this a news article. Penned by the fine folks at the Associated Press, does this qualify? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5681350.html

Yes, I'm interested... just because it's related to the parent companies of one of the only (current) 2 full fledged casino/racetracks in the state of West By God Virginia. But I mean I've got Google Alerts watching for little tidbits like this. It hardly qualifies as a news article though. Hell, it looks like a mini quote from a prospectus sent out to MTR Gaming investors. I guess I just don't get what is truly newsworthy.

And a shout out to the ass hat who caught his two outer against me earlier. Glad to see that someone else took your/my chips from you shortly after you temporarily felted me. Then, I read your profile on the site, and found that Gus Hansen was your fave player ever, and you hadn't even hit the age of 25 yet. Bad news for ya dude... the whole frackin' table wrote down your name. I swear, and if they didn't I'm telling everyone I know... and staking them. But... as usual I digress.

The bright side to the story, I throw some cash out to the evil realm of blackjack (online) and for once, double up, win back what I lost to the aforementioned ass hat, and then I was able to continue playing comfortably for the remainder of the "late-night."

And now wonder of wonders... I'm on an upswing, of course fueled, by the evil minions of the accursed Jack Daniels.

Okay cheer_dad quitcherbitchin!

Despite all my whining and my woe-is-me talk today, I need to pause and be thankful. Others have had it worse than me today... and I've got no reason to complain further. Some very sad news came today to some very special and dear friends of mine. I'm very sorry. And at the risk of sounding quite sappy, I love you both very much. Whatever, whenever... we're here for you. Hope to see you very soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ted Arneault stepping down as MTR Gaming's front man

According to a variety of sources Ted Arneault will at the end of the year step down as chairman and chief executive officer of MTR Gaming. Recall I've written before of MTR Gaming, as they are the company which operates the Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack to my north in Chester, WV. Despite the good fortune which allowed the Chester based casino to open first a poker room and then later full casino gaming, and what would appear to be record crowds the greater corporation conglomerate has continued to see declining profits. In fact when a company reports in its 2007 annual report that it lost $11.4 million, well that tends to suggest a losing session. At least that's what I'd tend to call it. Heck, I lose $11.40 in an online session and I feel like a failure, but I digress.

Read the rest of the coverage here:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=44461

It must be pointed out that MTR has "unloaded" a number of its other properties already in an attempt to focus on more of its closer-to-home properties, right here in the hills of West By God Virginia. I hope the move leads to greater stability for both MTR and the region's gambling as a whole. We'll just have to stay tuned.

Ted Arneault has held the CEO spot of MTG Gaming now for 13 years. Oddly enough that was always a lucky number for me. MTR and Mr. Arneault seem to be a bit tight lipped on additional details of his departure from the company. Regardless though, in the interest of good karma, I wish the man well... it's a tough market for the unemployed. : )

Sorry this is about as serious as I get on the journalistic front gang. If you came here looking for cutting edge reporting, boy is your search engine outa whack!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Terry Caudill, New Binion's Front Man

Say hello to the new owner of Binion's! Check out the article from the Las Vegas Review - Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/business/14309607.html



The Nevada Commission approved Mr. Terry Caudill to run the downtown casino, and thus paved the way for him to take control as early as February. Recall that the property is currently owned and operated by the MTR Gaming Group, headquarted in Chester, WV.



According to the article, he has many plans and upgrades for the property in mind. Time will tell, but I wish him luck in the endeavour, as it would be a shame for the historic Binion's to disappear from the Las Vegas landscape!



You'll probably catch a few glimpses of Binion's on the right hand side of the blog slideshow, since this was one of our many destinations on our Vegas trip.



Frank and I both commented that we wouldn't mind at all staying downtown on a future trip to Las Vegas. Downtown and The Fremont Street Experience offered a party atmosphere and cheaper prices. : ) We liked the smaller, homier feel to the casinos of Fremont Street. From the sound of the article this is exactly what Mr. Caudill has in mind, and wants to build upon to save the struggling casino. For what it's worth...we'll be back!



Regards,



cheer_dad

Sitting at the airport

Well folks it's about time to wrap up this Las Vegas trip. I'm sitting here at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas and honestly I feel tired. It's been a long week. Big Red played today at Blackjack and Let It Ride and climbed a little out of the hole for us. No we still didn't finish up but it was a great time.

This time at Frank's urging we headed downtown to "old" Vegas. I was pleasantly surprised. The casinos were older, but nearly all of them had been updated and looked just as good as the others. Granted there was no Wynn or Bellagio down there to rival the strip but compared to Imperial Palace and Harrah's type properties, which is more "my" class they were just fine. Table games were alot cheaper. We even found a $3 table at the Golden Gate, and it wasn't a free-for-all, either. We signed up for lots of player's cards for the innocuous crap that they were handing out. Well undoubtedly receive lots of mailers as a result. It was funny on the 22nd to stick a card in a slot machine and have it tell me Happy Birthday Brian!!! I did note already receiving a number of emails from the casinos wishing me well on my big day, although none included any money savings.

Talked over lunch today with Frank and told him it just wasn't one of those "lucky" feeling trips to Vegas. So rather than throwing additional money out I opted to wander around sight see and drink mass quantities. Don't anyone go reading anything into it. Nothin's wrong, I'm not depressed, just goin' with the gut from time to time.

Frank says the only was he won this trip was losing. From 8 to 11am each morning when he played and got Aces and/or Kings cracked he of course lost, BUT made the bonus dollars from the casino at $100 and $50 respectively. He generally hit both, so those were winning sessions.

He also talked to the Imperial Palace Poker Room Manager and told him that he and I were bloggers from WV, and he comped him on the spot for some buffet tickets, which wasn't what Frank was looking for, he was just making small talk. He also mentioned that he had friends who used to work here in Vegas who went back "home" to WV to manage the poker room and blackjack pit area at none other than Chester, WV's Mountaineer Casino. Small world, isn't it.

Of all the casinos we visited, I'd have to say that drink service was best at the Palazzo. When you're sitting at a bank of penny slots, drinking double fisted already and the waitress hands you another and asks if you want another on her next trip, she's either made you for a serious alcoholic, or maybe we were just situated near the waitress/bar station.

We picked up several new $1 chips to add to the collection. Also stopped by the Gambler's General Store again on this trip and got some cool little trinkets, including some cut cut cards.

We've got about an hour before takeoff, and we're hoping that it'll be less than full and allow for some stretching out room. I'll sort through some of the pictures later and start getting them uploaded, and shared out to the blog.

Hope all is well back home and we'll see you all soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

MTR closes another sale in Vegas

According to the Associated Press, in a story picked up by the Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5452536.html. MTR Gaming has closed the sale of yet another of their Las Vegas properties.

This time the Chester, WV based company has sold the property "...owned by its Speakeasy Casino in North Las Vegas for about $11 million..." to Ganaste LLC . Oddly enough the gambling operations have been sold separately to Lucky Lady D LLC for nearly $7 million, while Speakeasy Gaming Inc, will continue to operate the gaming operations onsite under the terms of a short term lease. Of course all of this is contingent upon approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

As has been reported previously MTR, is selling off it's other properties in order to focus on newer, growing markets, particularly on its touted "flagship property" in Chester, WV Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Status on proposed sale of Binion's by MTR Gaming Group

From the article on The Times West Virginian courtesy of the Associated Press:

"CHESTER — The Nevada Gaming Control Board has approved MTR Gaming Group’s plan to sell its Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas.

The plan unanimously approved Wednesday now goes before the Nevada Gaming Commission for consideration.

If approved, the $32 million cash deal with TLC Casino Enterprises should be completed by February.

MTR also has a North Las Vegas property under contract for sale.

The company decided to sell its Nevada properties so it could concentrate on holdings in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Midwest.

Last month MTR launched casino-style table games at its flagship property, Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester.

The company also has interests in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Ohio."

Note that the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, WV is identified as the "flagship property," and that the sale of Binion's would allow MTR to further concentrate on holdings in WV, and PA, and the Midwest.

We've made it north to Wheeling Island, gang, but we're yet to drive the additional 45 minutes to behold the Mountaineer and all it's gambling goodness. If the casino and its ownership continues to receive newswire nods, I think it's our duty to make the trip...and soon. Okay, maybe after next weeks trip to Las Vegas!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad