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Ep. 90 – Sue Ascanio, Plaza Las Vegas General Manager

When it comes to “been  there, done that,” few can match Sue Ascanio. The 30-year gaming veteran has risen from running the employee cafeteria at the Holiday Casino to managing properties in Las Vegas, Indiana and California. And now she’s back, as General Manager of the Plaza. Sue is the first female GM in downtown […]

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filed under: On The Corner Of Main Street

Ep. 89 – Oscar Goodman’s Odds & Ends in Las Vegas

Hizzoner is back! This time we’ve taken the greatest hits from Oscar’s November Dinner Series talk and asked him to expand on the stories. The common theme of the random stories: how Oscar never dined with his clients (although his mother did). Also: defending the mayor of San Diego, and securing the release from jail […]

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Ep. 88 – Andre Filosi, Boyd Gaming

From slots to the 9th Island, Andre Filosi has spent nearly his entire working life with Boyd Gaming. He’s currently the General Manager of Boyd’s three downtown properties, the Fremont, Main St. Station and the California. Andre shares his own journey up the ladder, as well as how the California went from the verge of […]

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filed under: On The Corner Of Main Street

Ep. 87 – Dennis Gutwald, Gaming Attorney

When you need a license to run a casino in Nevada, Dennis Gutwald is that man to see. That’s what Jonathan did when he took over the Plaza a decade ago. Gutwald was also an investigator for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. These days, along with gaming, he also advises people in the cannabis business. […]

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Ep. 86 – Tim Poster, Vegas Biz Wiz

Casinos, online gaming, and online travel reservations. Tim Poster has been successful in all three. He made his first fortune turning a Vegas-centric telephone hotel reservation service into a company that Expedia would buy. He bought the Golden Nugget, then sold it for a profit after only 18 months – becoming a reality TV star […]

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Ep. 85 – Marilyn Spiegel, Casino Boss

It’s quite an accomplishment to become the head of Las Vegas casino. But Marilyn Spiegel has been at the helm of SEVEN casinos in her career.  From the Holiday Casino to not one but TWO tenures as president of Wynn/Encore, Marilyn has seen and done a lot. Just reciting her resume is a mini history […]

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Ep. 84 – Oscar Goodman: There’s Nothing Like a Dame

The song title from the legendary musical “South Pacific” was the theme of Oscar Goodman’s last dinner series talk. He shared stories of the important women in his life, starting with his grandmother, wife and daughter. Then it’s off to the races, as Oscar tells the tales of a sleepy judge, a con woman client […]

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Ep. 83 – John O’Donnell, Superstar Bartender

John O’Donnell is the bartender at One Steakhouse at the Virgin Hotel. That’s kinda like saying LeBron James is a noted basketball player. John’s been at the center of the action for nearly 30 years – most notably during his years at  N9NE Steakhouse at Palms. He also led the creation of the East Fremont […]

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Ep. 82 – Oscar’s Rotten Tomato Judges

A trial is supposed to be about the prosecution and the defense. But Oscar Goodman says, in most of his mob-related cases, it was him against the world – meaning the prosecution and the judge. In the episode, we bring you the best of Oscar’s recent dinner series talk on ‘Rotten Tomato Judges,’ as well […]

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filed under: On The Corner Of Main Street

Ep. 81 – Cedric Crear: From the casino to the council

Like so many others here, Las Vegas native and City Council member Cedric Crear started his career on a casino floor. And he used that experience, plus his time at Howard University, to grow his own businesses and serve the public. His resume is filled with advisory board positions. And since 2018 he’s represented Ward […]

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filed under: On The Corner Of Main Street

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