Page 9 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Summer, 2025

Moving Ahead
Leadership team promotions at Ameristar Casino
VICKSBURG — Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg has announced three key promotions within its leadership team.
Peter Dang has been promoted to vice president of casino operations. Dang began his gaming career as a dealer at Bally’s New Orleans before joining Boomtown New Orleans in 2006. Over the years,
he has worked in various roles, including table games trainer and assistant casino manager.
In 2021, Dang assumed the role of multi- property director of casino operations at sister properties in Tunica before joining Ameristar Casino Vicksburg as director of casino operations.
LaKesha Hodge, newly promoted vice president of human resources, brings
Peter Dang
LaKesha Hodge
Angela Reed
human resources coordinator to director of human resources.
Angela Reed has been appointed casino manager. Starting as a cage cashier at Isle of Capri in Vicksburg in 1993, Reed has held
a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of South Alabama, Hodge began her career at PENN Entertainment in 2015 at Boomtown Casino Biloxi. Her journey within the company has seen her rise from
such roles as table games dealer and head of table games. After a brief hiatus from the gaming industry, she began her tenure at Ameristar Vicksburg in December 2017.
At Ameristar, Reed has served the property as an assistant floor manager and, more recently, as assistant casino manager.
IT Systems Engineer
Golden Nugget Biloxi promoted Brandon Dang to IT systems engineer. Hired in July 2023, Dang has made significant contributions to the IT department. He holds a Business Information Systems
degree from Mississippi State University and is a Cisco Certified Network Administrator.
Three promoted at Riverwalk Casino
VICKSBURG — Riverwalk Casino Hotel announced three promotions at the Vicksburg property.
Brock VanWye was named senior director of operations. VanWye came to Riverwalk in 2021 as marketing director. His new role includes marketing, hotel and food and beverage.
Will Jones was promoted to senior director of finance, where will he is responsible for cage, credit count and
sportsbook and revenue audit. Jones joined the Riverwalk team in 2022 as finance director.
And, Amber Sweatt has been promoted to operations shift manager. She came to the property in 2018
as a dual-rate dealer/supervisor and was quickly promoted to table games supervisor.
In 2022, Sweatt was named assistant operations shift manager.
SUMMER 2025 MISSISSPPI GAMING NEWS 9
Harrah’s Gulf Coast names new directors
BILOXI — Harrah’s Gulf Coast announced several leadership updates. Conrad Hamel has been promoted to director of casino operations, overseeing slots, table games and overall casino performance. Additionally,
Jostlin “Josh” Necaise has
been named director of food
and beverage, and Justin Hill
has been named director of
marketing.
Hamel has more than 30
years in the gaming industry,
beginning as a security
officer/bike patrol in 1994.
His career path has led him
to nearly every facet of casino operations, including surveillance, security, risk, valet, bell services, slots, table games, casino beverage and EVS.
Over the years, he played a critical role
in major gaming moves, casino redesigns and operational projects, ensuring that every detail — from the gaming floor to the executive offices — met the highest standards.
Necaise, F&B director,
has more than 25 years
of experience in food and beverage. Starting his career in the back of house, he
rose through the ranks with Penn Gaming through a variety of outlets, properties and disciplines, before joining Bally’s Corporation, where he most recently served as director of
Jostlin “Josh”
Necaise Hill
Harrah’s. Throughout his career, he built a solid track record driving substantial revenue growth while building strong collaborative teams both domestically and internationally.
As head of marketing, Hill will oversee the strategic direction of the property’s casino marketing, national casino marketing, special events and advertising functions.
Conrad Hamel
Justin
food, beverage and sales.
Hill brings more than 20 years
of experience in casino marketing, player development, resort marketing and operations to his new position at