Presque Isle Downs & Casino named Kevin O’Sullivan general manager Jan. 3.
O’Sullivan, known by employees as “K.O.,” replaces Jeff Favre, the brother of Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre, reported Go Erie.
Recently, Jeff Favre took on the role of vice president and general manager of another Eldorado Resorts property, Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lake Charles, in Louisiana.
O’Sullivan brings know-how
With 25 years of experience in the global gaming industry, O’Sullivan first came to Eldorado Resorts in 2012. He started as senior director of operations for Scioto Downs in Ohio and then moved to the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia.
Finally, he made it to Presque Isle Downs & Casino, serving as an assistant general manager.
According to WENY News, O’Sullivan has a track record with the following brands:
- Horseshoe Gaming
- Hard Rock Casino & Hotel
- Foxwoods Casino Resort
- Sun City South Africa
- London’s Victoria Casino
The Presque Isle Downs difference
O’Sullivan started as a slot technician, moved through Europe and then ended up on a cruise ship that brought him to the US. While his first interest is growing revenue, he wants to do that securely and utilize what makes Presque Isle Downs different to help the business. He told Go Erie:
“Part of it is the racing. The other part of it is the employees. We have a lot of competition. Our employees understand that for Erie and everybody to get a piece of the action we have to do well and we’re all on that same page. Let’s push Presque Isle to the next level because it’s going to help the community, too.”
In the meantime, O’Sullivan will focus on growing table games, putting out new equipment, and adjusting the hotel menu. O’Sullivan is also making sure he keeps options open, whether they will utilize them or not (PA casino gaming expansion, anyone?). He’ll also be keeping an eye on his competitors within and without the state.
What Presque Isle Downs has to look forward to
Presque Isle Downs comes in as one of four crowdpleasers in PA in the way of table games revenue. Up 4.88 percent from last year, sitting at $1,212,307, Presque Isle Downs continues to make waves. Overall the casino is up 3.42 percent from the prior year.
The change from one year to the next: $8,807,940 (January 2017) to $9,109,070 (January 2018).
As an available auctioneer for the satellite casinos in PA, Presque Isle Downs could win a property and start to settle the score over nearby competition.
Presque Isle Downs relies on Ohio players for revenue. While Sands Bethlehem is a distance from the boundary line in Erie, all three are about equidistant from Cleveland. Brand recognition and global reach could separate Sands from Presque Isle Downs. Already, the casino may have to worry about Mount Airy’s new mini casino.
At this point, Presque Isle Downs has stayed quiet on whether they’ll bid at auction. Even so, O’Sullivan was quick not to dismiss it in his interview with Go Erie.
If the casino continues to offer perks like it offered Super Bowl tickets, it could be in good shape.