Life's Golden for casino VP

Freshly armed with a degree in journalism, Jef Bauer answered an ad for a “sports writer” at a Reno casino. But little did the neophyte know, the job was to write horse and sporting event bets for $5.25 an hour.

“The posting said, ‘sports writer,’ but I couldn’t understand why a casino wanted a sports writer,” said Bauer, now 44 years old with a 23-year career in the gaming industry. “I went, interviewed and got the job. My writing career went away, and my casino career started.”

Five years ago, Bauer and his extensive gaming resume landed him in Black Hawk as the vice president and general manager of the Colorado division of Golden Gaming Inc., a company based in Las Vegas with offices in Reno and Black Hawk.

Bauer’s job is to helm operations at the Golden Mardi Gras, Golden Gates and Golden Gulch casinos in Black Hawk.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a better job than the one I have,” Bauer said. “If I wasn’t doing this, I would be a teacher.”

Bauer first entered the Colorado gaming market five years ago when his company acquired the three casinos. While Colorado casinos have gone through two of the toughest years financially, Bauer maintains an optimistic outlook for the future.

“We will come out of the economic rough spot, but we will come out of it and grow this company into something bigger than just a day-trip slot market,” he said.

On the drawing board, Golden Gaming has a master plan to build a six-story hotel with 80 to 100 rooms and possibly a spa. “We’re in a wait-and-see mode with the economy,” Bauer said.

Meanwhile, the Golden Casinos honcho is spending some face time with Coloradans in the form of a series of television ads featuring his mug.

“We’ve taken a folksy approach,” Bauer said about the ads that depict him not only as general manager, but also outfits him in various jobs throughout the casinos. “It’s a funny, kitschy ad. Everyone in the ad is really a team member or a customer. We’re taking more of an interest in positioning me as the face of Golden Gaming.”

They’re golden. Blake L. Sartini II (son of Golden Gaming Inc. owner Blake Sartini), executive marketing manager, and Jimmy Wadhams II, executive operations manager for the company’s divisions in Black Hawk, Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nev., will be the first managers to enter into the company’s two-year management development program.

Big give. Ameristar Casinos Inc., with a casino in Black Hawk, and The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation recently contributed $50,000 to aid victims of the horrific earthquake in Haiti.

The donations are being made to the University of Miami’s Global Institute’s relief efforts in Haiti. Ameristar made the donation on behalf of its more than 7,000 employees company-wide.

Mangia. I told you before that Ruby Tuesday’s was the rumored new restaurant to open inside the Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek. ‘Tis true. Ruby Tuesday’s is aiming to open mid May.

- 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