Justin Moore has been named general manager of Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady. The announcement was made by Rush Street Gaming Co-Founder and CEO Greg Carlin during his opening remarks at the launch of the state’s first legal sports wagering lounge at Rivers Casino last week.
“Strong teams have strong leaders, and Moore is a great leader for Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady,” said Rush Street CEO Greg Carlin. “We have a strong team in Schenectady, and we’re very happy with the job that Justin is doing.”
Moore moved to the Capital Region in 2017 to take on the role of vice president of operations at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady and, just two months later, he was promoted to vice president and assistant general manager where he helped Rivers become the Capital Region’s top gaming and entertainment destination.
“It’s a dream come true, and it just goes to show you that with a little hustle and a lot of hard work, even a former casino food server like me can become the general manager of a leading gaming and resort destination,” said Moore. “I have to pay tribute to the team at Rivers Casino—I couldn’t do it without them—our success is a testament to their commitment to our guests, the City of Schenectady and the Capital Region.”
Moore spent the first 16 years of his casino and gaming career in the world’s premier gaming center, the State of Nevada. He began his career in the casino industry as a food server in Mesquite, Nevada in 1999.
Later, Moore worked for Station Casinos, the leading casino and resort company in the Las Vegas locals’ market, where he worked in the areas of food & beverage and slot gaming. He eventually rose to become the vice president and assistant general manager at Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino where he served alongside his mentor, General Manager Carol Thompson, for three years.
Moore is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations at Rivers Casino, which is home to more than 1,000 team members, a 50,000 square foot gaming floor with 1,150 slot machines, 67 gaming tables, 16 poker tables, off-track betting services, and new Rivers Sportsbook. His responsibilities also include a 10,000 square foot event center for live entertainment, conventions, weddings and other events, five restaurants—including Dukes Chophouse, Flipt, Mian, Johnny’s To-Go and Villa Italia—and Van Slyke’s bar and lounge.
Under Moore’s leadership, Rivers Casino & Resort was named a Top Workplace by the Albany Times Union—a recognition based entirely on results from a survey provided to employees and their opinions related to their work environment. In addition, Rivers was recently recognized by the Albany Business Review as the Capital Regions No. 1 tourist destination.
One of Moore’s most significant impacts on Rivers Casino & Resort is the inspiration and motivation that he instills in the Rivers team. Moore’s leadership style is based on trust and empowering individuals to do the best job possible. Moore’s leadership style fosters a corporate culture that values its team members and their ideas—Rivers is an enriching place where people can start and grow their careers. His true success comes from the achievements of his team members and all that they accomplish through the course of their careers.
Moore has worked with the Rivers team to develop and enhance partnerships with local businesses, community leaders and numerous charitable organizations throughout the Capital Region. The Rivers team has raised thousands of dollars, donated food, and volunteered over 1,500 hours to local charities already this year.
Moore was instrumental in spearheading River’s historic partnership with Capital Off-Track Betting. This partnership, finalized in May 2018, brought OTB’s complete horse wagering services to the casino and made Rivers the first and only casino in New York state to offer live on-site horse betting to guests. Not only did this allow guests to bet on the ponies, it strengthened River’s connection to one of the world’s premier horse racing tracks—Saratoga Race Course.
Under Moore’s leadership, Rivers has brought in top flight acts and unique entertainment to the Capital Region. Working with their partners at the Galesi Group, they launched Harbor Jam, an all-new free summer concert series that began last year at the Mohawk Harbor Amphitheater.
