Joe Scibetta has been part of nine casino openings during his career, including operations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Des Plaines, Illinois.
But the latest opening in Chandler, Oklahoma, may be his signature accomplishment in a career that spans almost 30 years.
Harrah’s Oklahoma will open to the public April 9. Operated in partnership with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, it’s the first Caesars-managed gaming experience in the state.
“We’re the new kid in town with the old brand,” said Scibetta, Senior Vice President and General Manager Harrah’s Oklahoma. “The Harrah’s brand has been around since Bill Harrah started it in Reno (Nevada).
“We may be new, but we have players in our database that play with us all over the country that actually live in Oklahoma. We have that database that we’re going to start with, and from there we’re going to bring our marketing and promotions capabilities that our competitors just aren’t used to having in the market.”
Harrah’s Oklahoma will have 12 table games, 1,000 slot machines and a high-limit gaming area. There will be two restaurants: Arrow & Ember, offering contemporary American fare menu, and Dash Café, which will provide fast, reliable and food, plus a sports bar offering drink options. Expansion plans include a hotel and increasing entertainment space.
“While there are other food and beverage offerings in the area, we’ll bring a different scale and a different capability that is not within 30 miles of here,” Scibetta said, noting that Chandler, near Route 66, is about 40 minutes from Oklahoma City and an hour from Tulsa.
“We’re not, so to speak, in the middle of nowhere. However, we are bringing some offerings to the Chandler area that currently don’t exist.”
The casino will take the place of Ioway Casino, also in Chandler. The Iowa Tribe additionally owns the Cimarron Casino in Perkins and the Ioway Travel Plaza Casino in Tyron, both in Oklahoma.
Scibetta said Caesars was brought in by the Iowa Tribe to bring the Harrah’s brand to the Oklahoma market.
“We fully manage this property with our partnership with the tribe,” he says. “If I fully manage everything, that when you look and feel when you come in here it will feel like a Caesars property.”
About 320 employees will be hired. Scibetta, a native of Buffalo, New York, hopes Harrah’s Oklahoma also will serve as a launching pad for those who aspire to work in the gaming industry.
“I started as a table game supervisor in East Chicago, Indiana, in 1997 and I was able to work my way up and create a great career for myself,” he says. “I think we’re bringing careers. These aren’t just jobs. You can sign on with Harrah’s and be part of Caesar Entertainment and possibly move up and grow by going to a different market.”
Scibetta calls Chandler a city that is growing and has great possibilities.
“I’ve been here about six months, but the growth that we see in this market, I think there’s so much potential for the business to grow as more people move here and create more jobs, as companies create more jobs,” he says. “We’re just happy to be part of the growth of Oklahoma.”
