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Blackjack: SUNY Morrisville casino program is on a roll

On the casino floor, games are played and fortunes lost or gained. But tonight, lady luck saunters to the beat of one man’s drum. As he engages one blackjack dealer, chances are tonight’s his lucky night; he doesn’t have to worry about winning or losing, but acing Casino 102 with SUNY Morrisville instructor Peter LaMacchia.

Too often, students overlook the merit of employment in nontraditional jobs, such as gaming and hospitality. But that could soon change. LaMacchia, director of the SUNY Morrisville gaming and casino management degree program — the first such two-year program in the nation — is gaining notice because of new state legislation permitting the building of new casinos in the state to raise much-needed revenue.

“New casinos will help New York recover funds currently lost to casinos in neighboring Canada and New Jersey,” said LaMacchia, a UUP member.

LaMacchia feels the new legislation will create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in New York within the next four to six years.

“The operation of six new casinos will not only create jobs, benefiting both the state and local economies, but also will promote the growth of the industry and encourage support for the legalization of gaming,” LaMacchia said.

The casino management program, which originated in 1998, offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in all facets of the hospitality and gaming industries, including casino marketing and management techniques, hotel operations, and food, beverage and catering management. In the introductory casino program, students have the opportunity to develop and design their “dream” casino.

“Students decide how the property will be marketed, its demographics, location and amenities,” LaMacchia said. “Students can take this chance to develop their dream property and to truly get a feeling for all the aspects of developing a casino property.”

Plans include the building of a new hospitality center to house the program, and expanding course work to include more seminar and industry training.

“Worldwide, the gaming industry is hiring while other industries are not,” said LaMacchia, noting that the demand for educated personnel is increasing.

Morrisville’s program offers students a live gaming laboratory, where they can work with equipment and technology currently used in the industry. Other resources available to students include internship opportunities in hotels and casinos and with the New York State Police. Industry internships further students’ understanding of the industry, while serving as an opportunity to hone students’ skills through actively working with security, customer service and surveillance. Many of the technological aspects of the program use and expand on current customer service — related security installments like facial recognition and finger-printing software.

The program is part of the college’s School of Business and is aligned with its hospitality programs, which include travel, tourism, and restaurant management and food-service administration. It offers students the opportunity and knowledge necessary to compete in the global market.

SUNY Morrisville is a member of the Casino Management Association.

Check out the casino program at http://www.morrisville.edu. Click on Academics and Programs of Study.

— Thea Brewster