Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana recently named Kathryn Jenkins senior vice president and general manager. Previously she was general manager at Horseshoe Bossier City and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs properties. Jenkins also served in various executive marketing positions Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe’s former parent company, and at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. She began her career in the casino industry in 2002 as a casino host at Harrah’s New Orleans, rising to the position of assistant general manager.
In her new role at the 108,000-square-foot venue, Jenkins will oversee 1,700 employees, the Book sportsbook, the Venue entertainment venue and eight restaurants.
Former Horseshoe Hammond General Manager Dan Nita said, “Kathryn’s extensive experience in hospitality and gaming, along with her commitment to leading a team that is focused on providing exceptional service, make her the perfect choice for Horseshoe Hammond.”
After 11 years, Nita is relinquishing day-to-day management at Horseshoe to concentrate on his position as regional president for Caesars Entertainment, formerly Eldorado Resorts, which acquired Horseshoe in July. Nita stated, “I am very excited to have Kathryn leading the Horseshoe team. Her background in marketing, particularly developing relationships with our best guests, will be a great benefit to the property.”
Nita said he and Jenkins first worked together at Harrah’s New Orleans, Jenkins in marketing while Nita was in finance.
With five of Indiana’s commercial gaming properties, Caesars is the state’s largest gaming operator. Its portfolio includes Horseshoe, two central Indiana racinos and the Tropicana Evansville and Caesars Southern Indiana casinos on the Ohio River.
However, as a condition of approving the $17.3 billion Eldorado deal, the Indiana Gaming Commission ordered Caesars to begin divesting three of its Indiana properties by the end of the year to avoid “undue economic concentration” of the state’s gaming industry. Caesars officials said they plan to retain the racinos and sell off Horseshoe and two other casinos. Meanwhile it’s unclear when the Horseshoe sale will be finalized or how that will affect Jenkins’ new position as general manager.
Ed Feigenbaum, editor of Indiana Gaming Insight, said the newly merged Caesars is making a statement by naming Jenkins as its new general manager. He said Eldorado had been accused of lacking diversity. “It was a pretty good sign that they appointed a woman as general manager at Horseshoe Hammond,” Feigenbaum said.
