Great Canadian appoints veteran U.S. gambling executive Tony Rodio as CEO

Tony Rodio, CEO of Great Canadian

2021-09-23

Canada

Reading time 1:34 min

This decision falls in line with the company's plan to add Las Vegas-style shows and celebrity chefs to the casino experience, after the U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global acquisition.

U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global Management Inc. closed its $2.48-billion acquisition of Toronto-based Great Canadian and announced the former CEO of Caesars Entertainment, Tony Rodio, as CEO, as well as two other casino operators which will take the reins.

Rodio has been in the gambling industry for four decades. Prior to his position at Caesars, he was CEO at both Affinity Gaming, which runs casinos and a sports-betting service, and Tropicana Entertainment Inc.

His appointment comes after former CEO, Rod Baker, was caught jumping the line for COVID-19 vaccines by travelling to Yukon and pretending to be workers at a local motel in January. Terrance Doyle, who took over the position as interim CEO, has now been appointed as President of Business Development.

Alex Van Hoek, an Apollo partners and chair of Great Canadian, spoke in a press release about Rodio’s appointment and said: “Tony is one of the industry’s most accomplished executives, and we are confident that his experience leading businesses through transformative periods of innovation and growth will help to take Great Canadian to new heights”.

Great Canadian’s growth strategy as pandemic restrictions are lifted includes enhancing the non-gambling experience at its properties by bringing in music acts and improving restaurants. The company also plans to ramp up online gambling platforms, while strengthening ties to customers by beefing up loyalty programs.

The company plans to use these programs to drive players at its smaller casinos into taking trips to the company’s larger properties, such as a new Pickering, Ont., resort with a 2,500-seat theatre, spa and 275-room hotel, or the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, which Apollo is in the process of acquiring for $2.25 billion.

“This is an exciting time in the gaming industry, and an incredibly exciting time at Great Canadian, as we welcome back guests to existing properties and new facilities”, Rodio said.

Great Canadian operates casinos in four provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and flagship locations near Toronto and Vancouver that feature concert venues and hotels, which have been renovated over the past year.