Craig Sculos, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel

$5,000 Welcome Bonus

Play Now

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Leaders & Achievers 2022
CRAIG SCULOS
Senior vp of Rhode Island regulatory, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel
Vice president and general manager, Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel

WITH JUST SIX HOURS of notice, Bally’s Corp.’s Twin River Lincoln and Tiverton casinos were required to close in the middle of a high-volume Friday evening in March 2020 as COVID-19 took hold of Rhode Island. Initially, the casinos’ expectations were to reopen within a couple of weeks, said Craig Sculos, Bally’s Tiverton Casino and Hotel’s vice president and general manager and senior vice president of Rhode Island regulatory for both Ocean State-based gaming facilities.

“Those couple of weeks stretched into months, followed by a reopening with an exacting series of safety-driven restrictions that spanned nearly a year,” Sculos said.

Sculos and his team had to develop and implement an operational plan, including a state-regulated sanitizing regimen for the 160,000-square-foot Tiverton facility. Additionally, sheets of plexiglass fastened to patio umbrella bases were positioned as safety barriers between slot machines and a ceiling-mounted unit served as a safety separator at the craps tables, he said.

‘ “Bettor” days are ahead.’

With a workforce of nearly 2,000, the two Bally’s casinos contribute more than $300 million to the state, one-third of Rhode Island’s revenue.

“[We] are more than slot machines and blackjack tables. Much more,” Sculos said. “We are a robust economic engine, a leading employer, venerable landmarks and are deeply woven into the fabric of the Ocean State.”

Now emerging from the pandemic, Sculos is hard at work pressing forward with plans for Bally’s to innovate and grow. Twin River Lincoln recently began expanding to include a 40,000-square-foot gaming area. Further renovations include enhancing the gaming floor aesthetic, revisiting the casino’s second floor and reimagining the overall player experience.

Sculos says competition for the leisure dollar has intensified, especially as the economy goes back and forth between inflation and possible recession.

“Staffing needs loom large, which is common across the industry. As conditions stabilize and hopefully improve, Bally’s will reposition the casinos accordingly as social outlets featuring gaming, dining, entertainment and lodging all under one roof,” Sculos said. “We’re maintaining our standards and delivering a satisfying guest experience. ‘Bettor’ days are ahead.”

Want to share this story? to purchase a link that allows anyone to read it on any device whether or not they are a subscriber.