WhiteSand Custom Book - (Page 8) Partners in Progress Mohegan’s Pocono Downs opens TECHNOLOGY Pennsylvania’s first legal casino P WhiteSand at Mohegan Sun ✔ ✔ ✔ 8 Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll was two minutes into her Nov. 14, 2006 welcoming speech when a few of those in the crowd of people waiting to start wagering at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs grew a bit restless. “C’mon, let’s go!” Pocono Record writer Michael Sadowski recalled one person yelling amidst a growing chorus of snickers and boos. involved in most casino and “It just means they’re anxhotel openings,” Nickerson ious,” Knoll said with a smile. said. “That’s good for the state.” The end result: the thouIt also was good for the sands who flocked to the 1,100 state and the Mohegan Tribal slot machines, wagering winGaming Authority that dows, food court, restaurants, Pennsylvania’s first legal casi- Pocono Downs integrated casino and racetrack operations. ATMs and other facilities selno opened without a hitch, dom found themselves standthanks in large part to the inforing in long lines. And there were no mechanical and mation technology expertise of WhiteSand software malfunctions to spoil the fun or slow the Consulting. action. “It was smooth,” President and CEO Robert “It really was textbook,”WhiteSand Managing “Bobby” Soper said of opening day at the Director Saverio R. (Sal) Scheri III said of the casiMohegan Sun at Pocono Downs racetrack and no opening. casino. There were no interruptions, the customers’ expe“It went very well,” said WhiteSand Director rience was enhanced and, as a result, Mohegan Jim Nickerson, the company’s man on the ground reaped maximum profits. at the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., racetrack and casino.“It was one of the smoothest casino openings I’ve Months of planning been a part of or been aware of.” Nickerson and WhiteSand installed gaming and hiteSand Director Nickerson and Senior player tracking systems that integrated the casino Project Manager E. Alan Mercer spent slots and racetrack pari-mutuel wagering. The firm some 14 months at Pocono Downs, quite also installed software systems for point of sale, audioliterally serving as the Mohegan’s IT team. Nickerson visual equipment, radio and emergency communicaand Mercer would later help indoctrinate permanent tions, human resources and payroll and accounting. IT staff members about the systems installed at the “There’s literally over 100 pieces of software site. Not only did WhiteSand have to provide systems for a new casino, but they had to upgrade a 40-yearold racetrack. “In the beginning we basically served as their IT department,” Nickerson said.“They had no staff. It was too early for that. It was just the VP Facilitated a smooth, non-interrupted and CEO. And they needed people who had multiopening of racetrack and casino. ple disciplines and could do different things quickly.They relied on us.We were the equivalent Excellent customer experience. of a 12-man IT team. “We saw them through design, wiring, low-voltage requirements, system selections, testing, IT Maximum generation of revenue. policy and procedures, organizational structure, hiring; the whole bit.” W
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