Who’s in that Santa Suit?

Santa Hat

Hey Ravers! It’s been awhile — I’ve missed writing to you about all those things that inspire and challenge us outside of work. See, it’s been a little crazy around here … Just a little over a year ago, our team was having our annual holiday dinner here in Reno. It was snowing and the…

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Despite Our Division – Why We Come Together and Celebrate

4th of July

We’re divided for sure – Even more reason to celebrate this country that we’re so passionate about For many gaming folks, the 4th of July is a day spent at the casino creating a time-honored atmosphere for their guests. Independence Day fills your hotel elevators with overly-excited kids smelling of chlorine and wet bathing suits;…

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A Funky Horn Player Gets the Top Award of the Year

Kell Houston

This once funky horn player …   took away the best casino buyer award in the history of the world And this is his third time. Yup, we can say “history of the world,” because this is our publication. But seriously, Kell Houston was honored last month in Nashville for being named the number one…

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A Special Message to the Ladies of Gaming

Breast Cancer Ribbon

If you’re in the gaming business, there’s a very good chance that you work very long hours, may have a stressful job, and on top of that may have families at home that need you. So we’re betting that you put yourself last when it comes to taking care of yourself. In recognition of Breast…

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Honoring the Code Talkers this Memorial Day

Native American Code Talkers

What you didn’t know about … Native American code talkers. Dear Ravers, Every Memorial Day, I have the privilege of going off our gaming topic and honoring those who served our country. Earlier this year, a submission for Raving’s Tribal Spirit of Giving Awards from Lucie Roberts, Human Resources Director, Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel, caught…

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Organizations Putting Veterans First

Thank You To Veterans

Doing more than just a discount off the buffet How three gaming organizations are giving back to our veterans Earlier in the year, I wrote a special newsletter around Memorial Day, and asked our readers to tell me about their connections with a soldier. I was surprised by the several emails that I received from…

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Traveling with the Ghosts of WWII

How two travelers from East Bufu Reno … Connect with Nigerian priests, Bavarian beer drinkers and Syrian refugees and the ghosts of WWII Dear Ravers, My husband, Jim, and I are sitting at the kitchen table of friends, a couple of weeks ago, in a small, 800-year-old village of Poppenhausen, about an hour and a…

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Remembering Our Fallen

I’ll never forget your smile Honor for the fallen and compassion for our returning veterans Dear Ravers, It’s 1983, and a group of us teenagers are piled into the back of a small pickup truck. It’s night and we’re keyed up after teepeeing a few homes. I’m scared about getting caught and feeling guilty; this…

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Our Soldiers Who Are Not Home To Put Up the Flag

Veterans Day - American Flag

As we kick off the summer with our casino crowds and barbeques this Memorial Day … let’s give some thought to our soldiers who are not at home to put the flag up. Dear Ravers, Last year for Memorial Day, I wanted to reach beyond our typical gaming topics and honor our soldiers who have…

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