G-Girls more than pretty faces for Black Hawk casino

By Penny Parker

Aina, a G-Girl in the Golden Gates blackjack area inside the Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, is establishing such a name for herself that she has her own Facebook page (search for Aina Golden Gates on Facebook.com).

The 25-year-old, originally from Russia, came to the United States five years ago to learn English and get a bachelor’s degree in international business. She met her husband along the way and stayed put.

Her job, besides just being a pretty face, is to provide the ultimate level of customer service to guests who frequent the casino owned by the Golden Casino Group.

“I love working at the Gates, the atmosphere is fun, and there’s always great music,” she said. “It’s a small casino, and it’s just fun.”

She started working as a bartender, then signed up for blackjack school to learn how to be a dealer. Golden Casino Group employs 15 to 20 G-Girls who act as hostesses for guests.

“I’m enjoying working here,” Aina said. “We always switch different costumes for different events.

Shannon Keel, assistant general manager of the Golden Casino Group, explained that the company has the G-Girls dress to fit the occasion.

“For Christmas, they dressed in a Santa’s helper costume,” Keel said. “For Valentine’s Day, they were in a red corset. Normally, they wear jeans and a nice shiny belt and a vest. Their main job is to talk to people to make sure they’re having a good time, and are happy and having fun.”

To keep track of Aina’s ever-changing schedule, you can follow her on Facebook.

“I’m not a very good gambler,” she said. “I can’t sit for hours, but I can stand up and move.”

The G-Girls are certified blackjack dealers and are trained to run a craps table. Aina said she’s worked at Golden for five years, while her husband works at the Ameristar. Her goal is to improve her English skills while trying to stump customers about the origin of her birth country.

“I have a very Asian look even though I’m from Russia,” she said. “I make (customers) guess where I’m from. It takes a while for them to guess it, even though I have a Russian accent. They say Korea? Vietnam? New and different countries, but not the right one.”

You can meet the G-Girls at www.goldencasinogroup.com

Face time. Since Golden Casino Group GM Jef Bauer exposed his face on TV commercials where he dressed in various uniforms pretending to take on different roles, he’s been recognized in the strangest places.

“It’s pretty weird to get recognized in the Las Vegas airport getting on a plane to Denver,” Bauer said. “They ask me, ‘Are you the guy on TV?’ Relatives I didn’t know were in Colorado found out I was here. It’s like ‘This is Your Life.’ It was pretty funny.

A group of Bauer’s relatives set up a surprise party featuring a “mystery guest,” which was him.

“One person yelled, ‘It’s Jef Bauer!’ It was funny.”

One of the best perks of his new-found fame is that servers at Sushi Den recognize him.

“They shake my hand and say that they know me,” he said.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or email pparker@denverpost.com