Every January, we all scribble down the usual personal resolutions: get fit, eat better, quit Instagram, learn Spanish, swear off carbs until at least Tuesday… you know the drill.
But let me ask you a more important question: Did you create a second list; one for your job performance in Slot Operations?
If you want to keep growing in this wonderfully maddening business, writing down a few professional commitments is far more valuable than promising yourself you’ll live at the gym in 2026. And unlike that diet, try your best to keep them top-of-mind all year long.
Below are the resolutions that have served me well. Steal them. Modify them. Share them. Just don’t ignore them:
- Hold Consistent Team Member Events
- Make A Competitive Review Calendar
- Commit To Training, Training, Training
- Aggressively Contribute To Your 401k (Just Do It)
- Update Your Software
- Read And Keep Informed
- Keep Aware Of AI/Cyber Threats
- Make CNs A Priority
- Verify Your Settings (Trust, But Verify)
- Do Preventive Maintenance On A Regular Basis
Most are self-explanatory. Hopefully, some of the topics above are on, or will be on, your resolution list this year. If you need further details, they are in the text below. If not, full speed ahead with your new plan and have a great and more profitable year.
- Consistent Team Member Events
Work is work, but it doesn’t have to feel like tax season. A steady pipeline of fun internal events does wonders for morale and retention. Build an annual calendar, so your people always know that something enjoyable is around the corner and you keep on a steady track.
A few of my favorite proven winners:
- Executive Car Wash Raffle – Senior leadership washing employee cars of the winners. Humbling, messy, and unforgettable.
- Putting Contests – Down hallways, through warehouses… equal parts competition and comedy.
- Prize Sharing – Randomly award customer promo prizes to team members. It’s the surest way to guarantee everyone understands your current promotions. (These can be small like multiple “Gift of the Month” prizes, but don’t forget the biggies: it is great when a team member gets a new car just like the winner of the big drawing.)
- Talent Shows, Trivia, Costume Contests, Slot Tournaments, Chili Cookoffs and the like always work well. Physical stuff like Tug o’ Wars and Softball have a risk of work comp injuries.
- Competitive Review Calendar
It still amazes me how many operators rarely visit competing casinos. Your best lessons, good and bad, can come from seeing other floors in action.
- In dense markets (Vegas, Reno, AC), aim for weekly visits to one or two joints.
- In rural markets, where the competition is a road trip, every 2 to 4 weeks is fine.
- Give your counterpart a courtesy heads-up call when you arrive. Most will happily join you and offer additional insights you may have missed.
- Correct any of their mistakes you see at your own property, but most importantly, steal all their good ideas (just execute them better). As Henry Ford once said, “I invented nothing new, I simply assembled the discoveries of others.”
- Take notes. Write a short recap to share with your leadership team. You’ll build credibility and respect quickly.
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- Training, Training, Training
If you are just starting your career, there’s no better advice than to seek as much training as you can. If you got 30 years under your belt, there’s still no better advice.
Ask yourself questions like:
- When did you last take a refresher on your CMS software?
- Do you know this year’s newest cheating scams?
- Were there any MICS updates this year?
- Do you know the details about that new cabinet your vendor is pushing?
- HR rules are constantly changing. Are you up to speed?
If any of your answers are vague, then training is overdue (it’s always overdue).
- 401k (Yes, I’m Preaching—Because It Matters)
Young folks: trust the resident old geezer, your company’s 401k is pure gold.
- Contributions reduce taxable income.
- Earnings grow tax-free (one of the few legal and ethical tax dodges).
- Automated deductions make it painless.
- If your company offers a match, that’s free money.
- The earlier you start, the richer you’ll become—literally.
There are only a few minor 401k drawbacks, but they are far offset by the bennies. Sign up or increase your contribution today.
- Update Your Software
Our industry has a bad habit of letting software updates collect dust because they often cause temporary problems. Don’t fall into that trap.
Updates bring:
- New features
- Bug fixes
- Better security
- Fewer headaches during audits
Work closely with IT, especially for your specialized apps like CMS, analytics, dispatching, scheduling, and T&A platforms. If your past updates have been especially painful, look in the mirror. You’ve probably asked the vendor for too many custom features. Do you really need them? Are they worth the upgrade hassle every time? Or did you skip the last couple of updates, making the newest one so much harder than it needs to be. Keep current!
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- Read and Keep Informed
You can’t keep up with this industry on experience alone. Build a routine.
- Daily/Weekly Online Reads (the ones below are free)
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- CDC Gaming (best headline scan in the business)
- Pechanga.net (excellent tribal coverage and smart curation by Victor Rocha)
- Influencers
They’re not just entertainment anymore. They’re field testers. Some of the best are Vegas Matt, NG Slot, Lady Luck, Brian Christopher, and any creator who frequents your property.
- Conferences & Trade Shows
G2E, IGA, World Game Protection, TribalNet, Casino Marketing & Tech, and ICE (if Barcelona fits the budget). Show up and take notes. You’ll learn more walking the aisles than you expect.
- Books & Magazines
Magazines are fading, but I still enjoy one of the survivors: “Global Gaming Business (GGB)”. Books can be hit or miss, but I’ve tried to identify the useful ones in my Frank Floor Talk reviews on CDC Gaming (search “book review” on their website).
- AI & Cyber Threat Awareness
AI isn’t going away and using it correctly can really enhance your career. You can write better, do advanced analysis, learn new skills and become a gifted researcher. If you avoid the topic, the odds are that you will soon be left behind.
Remember, the bad guys are also using AI to create new ways to hack your systems. Just because you’ve already been hit by ransomware doesn’t mean you are now magically immune. Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks recently warned that attackers are deploying AI faster than defenders. Believe him.
Your best defenses are:
- Keep your virus protection current (at home too).
- Train your staff using simulated scam emails (you’d be surprised who gets caught).
- Recruit an outside cyber-defense pro (and a recovery specialist).
- Re-read the “Training” and “Informed” sections above.
- CNs
CNs or Customer Notifications from manufacturers are not optional reading.
They are all critical. If one says “Mandatory,” it need to be addressed ASAP.
These often fix:
- Cheating vulnerabilities
- Game logic errors
- Player irritants
- Public safety risks
Do an annual CN audit. It’s amazing what can slip through the cracks.
- Verify Settings (Trust, But Verify)
When a new game hits the floor, everything should be correct after initial testing. But machines and systems are also susceptible to Murphy’s Law, especially with Free Play settings.
Perform random spot-checks throughout the year. They take just a few minutes but can save you thousands (not to mention your reputation).
- Preventive Maintenance (Accept No Substitutes)
Faded symbols, dirty glass, sticky buttons, weak monitors, burned-out bulbs, or sluggish bill validators all have one thing in common: they cost you money.
Don’t let PMs slip down your priority list. When done well, PMs also give you a second chance to confirm settings and catch small issues before they become floor-wide headaches.
Use a checklist (since careless PMs can also introduce new errors). Be methodical. And never assume “everything looks fine.”
Final thought
If even a few of these make your 2026 resolution goals, your casino and your team will have a better, calmer, more profitable year.
Now go make that list and stick to it longer than your exercise routine.
