Jose Flores has come a long way since his days as a prep cook at a casino in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois. He spent 17 years there, working his way through the culinary ranks and ultimately leading the casino’s non-gaming operations. He also managed the hotel, valet services, security and more. Now, 20 years since those prep-cook days, Flores recently started a new position as general manager at Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino in Bangor, Maine, on March 3. The property features a harness racetrack, nearly 900 slot machines and 16 table games. “I’m just really trying to take it all in,” Flores said.
Flores faces some significant challenges, primarily Churchill Downs’ Oxford Casino. The former Hollywood Slots, Hollywood Casino opened in summer 2012 and netted $63 million for the year. However, last year, that total dropped to $54.7 million.
Other groups also present challenges in terms of wanting to open their own gambling operations, including Maine tribes and Scarborough Downs. But both Penn National and Churchill Downs have testified in the state legislature that Maine does not have the demand to sustain more gambling; in fact, new gaming would cannibalize the young industry.
New casinos planned for New Hampshire and Massachusetts also present a challenge to Hollywood Casino and Flores.
But, Flores said, “The facility is still well-positioned. It’s a very nice facility. We have a great commitment to customer service. The table games product is new here and people are still getting acclimated to that. We have a lot of good things to offer.” He added the Cross Insurance Center across the street and the Waterfront Concerts Series will help contribute to the casino’s success.
Before arriving in Maine, Flores was general manager and assistant general manager at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia, offering a thoroughbred racetrack, 3,200 slot machines, nearly 100 table games and seven restaurants.
