After seeing Pechanga.net blossom, founder Victor Rocha is ready for a revamp.
Rocha said he has expanded his ventures to “a three-legged stool,” consisting of a web site (to be renamed VictorRocha.com), conference speaking and consulting. About 18 years ago, Rocha started Pechanga.net to share news – good and bad – about gaming with the Pechanga tribe.
“The industry and the world were changing, so I created it to help my tribe understand it,” Rocha said. “I wanted to be the anti-Drudge. The less I myself say the smarter people think I am.”
Then about five years ago, Rocha partnered with Spectrum Gaming for educational conferences.
“It was another way to influence the dialogue,” he said.
Rocha said he also thinks tribes need to diversify more, to look beyond gambling for revenues. But they also need to be prepared for possibly gaming expansions, including daily fantasy sports, online gambling and sports betting.
“What’s important is that tribes need to look at all of their options,” he said. “The world around them is changing, and while I’m very agnostic – not pushing it – I can help educate them.”
But whatever leg of the stool Rocha is focused on, he says he will maintain his love for sharing gambling information.
“I love it, it’s my passion,” he said. “When you do something you love, you don’t need to sleep.”
