As host of the recently launched CDC Gaming Show, Casey Gonzales tries to cover various aspects of the gaming industry. He’ll interview guests about sports betting, artificial intelligence, and other developments and trends.
One emphasis of the program is to highlight new and emerging people and innovators.
“I feel like there are a lot of entrepreneurs who are unknown in the industry and a lot of visionaries that don’t have a platform and haven’t had a platform,” Gonzales says. “When the idea of innovation came up and bringing the industry closer together, and trying to incentivize more collaboration, it got me excited about the show.”
Through eight episodes, Gonzales’ guests have included Andrew Cardno, Co-founder of Quick Custom Intelligence, Pavilion Payments CEO Christopher Justice; Gary Larkin, President of Koin Payments; and Noah Acres of Acres Manufacturing. He’s discussed popular table games in Las Vegas, casino legislation in Texas, and the purported use illegal dice at a casino in Atlantic City.
Gonzales briefly attended a Division II school to play football, but after a semester enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years as a master helmsman and rescue swimmer. His experience in the gaming industry includes serving as a sales consultant with the Gaming Capital Group, where he started as an intern, and as founder and CEO of Dynamic Gaming Solutions, a full-service gaming industry provider.
Gonzales was doing a small podcast when he met publisher emeritus Jeffrey Compton at last year’s G2E and pitched the idea for The CDC Gaming Show. The first episode debuted May 13 and featured an interview with Table Trac President and CEO Chad Hoehne.
His goal during every interview is to put himself in a listener’s frame of mind.
“I always say, what are the viewers at home going to think,” Gonzales says, noting his ultimate goal is to shed light on untold stories.
“You need the mathematicians of the world, you need the R&D and the artists,” Gonzalez adds. “What makes some of the games look really great? I think there are a lot of people in the shadows that need to be spotlighted.”
Tune in tomorrow for episode 9.
