When you say casino, first of all you think of people seeking their chance, each in his own way. Luck, bad luck, cards, roulette.

Never too much about those dealing the cards.

RODICA is pit boss at Grand Casino – Hilton, in Bucharest. A blond with quick, blue eyes. The color comes from her parents. The quickness from her job. Pro- Goldie Hawn fessional training, one might say.

She’s been working in the casino for ten years. “I started this job, as dealer, with a repetition” she says. “At first, I saw a commercial in a newspaper. It was back in 1995. I had no idea what that was, but it sounded tempting.

Casino dealer. I reached Hotel Sofitel, I was accepted at the interview and they sent me to school. I attended a two-month course and after that I worked a few days. And after that I left home. I got scared of that many people. What can I tell you?! I had never come in contact with that many people”.

After three years, she returned to the casino and this time to stay.

Destiny, hazard, strong will, who knows? Maybe a bit of them all.

“I was waitress at Sofitel in ’98 and heard there was a dealer course again at Blindo, at the casino. I felt like it was an urge, a déjà vu. I remembered my first try and I made my decision. I went to school, I attended class for three months and then became a rookie dealer”. 10 years have passed since and Rodica has climbed, step by step as she calls it, until she got here, on the highest chair of the playing room. “Here, it’s not a practice to be brought in and appointed in a certain position. In this job, as your experience accumulates, the position gets higher. You get certain skills, certain gestures, certain dexterity, quickness. You have to speak perfectly at least a foreign language and to be good at math. The first story which may seem simple even though it’s not was the multiplica- tion by 17. You don’t meet that too often in your everyday life. To be quick with the cards, I would exercise at home between two cooking sessions. In the end, I think I managed to do something with this job”.

She caresses the table velvet in a certain way: as if with a sort of old friendship. “When I was put at a table, I did both roulette and cards. I liked roulette the most. Many people say that blackjack is more interesting for a woman. Perhaps, but I liked to see the ball seeking the lucky number”. Rodica says that, regardless of the state of spirit you may experience, it’s good not to let it show at the table. Not too soft, not too strong. But you have to be communicative. To know what and when to say things. To maintain a certain atmosphere. “I saw people winning a lot and other losing just as much. Some feel the need to talk, others become very introverted.

You have to create a relation with each one of them. Using words, gestures, maybe even silence sometimes”. In 2000 she left Sofitel to come to Hilton. In the meantime, along with her increased experience, she had become an inspector.

“As inspector, you supervise everything that happens at a playing table. Client, dealer, cards, roulette, gestures, payments. Everything.

You sit on that higher chair. As a referee, keeping a sharp eye”.

Then, with each year of experience, she climbed a step further to become top inspector, and then to the current position – pit boss. “This means a sort of a chief of the room. You supervise everything. All the tables, the inspectors, dealers, clients. With discretion, but with utmost attention”.

Rodica has spent ten years in the casino, almost non-stop. The casino itself is open non-stop. “Everything moves like the wheels of a clock. The dealers spend 20 minutes at the table. Then they rest for another 20 minutes or go at another game. Switch tables and you also switch chances, that’s what they say in the casino. The ball spins on the inner edge of the roulette, the chips are on the table, so are the cards. Clients too go either for blackjack, or for poker. And then return to roulette”.

For ten years, the life of this woman has been spinning, like a clock, around luck. For ten years Rodica has been living in competition with chance, even though she has never sat at a table to play. She says she is happy with the salary and that she could do this job anywhere in the world, including Las Vegas, where salaries are bigger than any other salary. “I haven’t really thought of leaving. The life here is good. When I get home I share with my father all the new things over the day. We both think it’s like a tale out of the cards”.

Olguta Ganciu is the woman who had the courage to stand up against the unproductive mentality according to which casino management is strictly a man’s job.

We FIND CASA VERNESCU TO BE MUCH CHANGED. IS IT NOW ENTIRELY OCCUPIED BY THE CASINO?

Yes. Casino Palace has expanded its surface, it has grown. It is now, courtesy of Queen Investments, company which owns it, a part of Queenco Leisure International, group specialized in leisure entertainment, with activities all throughout Europe and Africa.

The most important entertainment center it owns is Club Hotel Casino Lutraki in Greece.

SINCE WHEN ARE YOU A PART OF THIS GROUP?

Starting right with this year, when Queenco was also quoted at the London stock exchange. It’s a great accomplishment for us as it proves that the casino business is becoming more and more respected, more transparent and that it works by the same pragmatic rules as any other business. The moment you obey the regulations of a public company, it says a lot about what your vision means in relation to the casino activity nowadays. With regard to the strategy we have for the future both in Romania and in Europe and then in the whole world, it is to develop through acquisition of new projects, projects we will build, current projects. A strategy of development by adding other businesses in other parts of the world too.

THE CONCEPT OF BUSINESS IS VERY GENERAL. DO YOU ALSO MEAN ANOTHER DOMAIN THAN THAT OF GAMBLING?

Business means all that relates to entertainment. We don’t consider our business just as a gaming one, but as one related to entertainment. Which means clubs, restaurants, hotels, casinos. The entire range.

For Romania we have also generous development plans, one of them being the Casino in Constanta. It is too part of the same selection of historical buildings taken over by the group, fact which has already become a tradition for us – acquisition of historical buildings, in order to organize inside high quality entertainment activities. Luxury restaurants, luxury clubs, luxury casinos. Locations which are most adequate for the ever higher demands of the clients. The competition is always growing, people have the chance to travel, to see, to discover.

Their demands are growing.

The fact that we have a preference for these extraordinary buildings is, on the one hand, due to the fact that we think of our clients as well as of an applied and pragmatic business, and on the other hand, we want to put our name in the history book by restoring these buildings. We like to believe that by restoring Casa Vernescu, by restoring the Casino in Constanta we will leave our mark through time and, over 100 years, when a historical research will be conducted, as we are doing now, they will notice the fact that Queenco has restored the historical value to the building. Thus, we pursue a double benefit, both a pragmatic economical-financial one and a cultural and historical one.

WHAT IMPORTANT THINGS DO YOU WISH TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

First of all we focus on the clients. And then we will continue the battle we started in order to change the mentality about this domain, about the casino activity.

We want to clearly transmit the message that a casino is an entertainment center where one can come not necessarily to play, but to have a good time. Another priority, very important, is represented by our employees. We have 450 employees at Palace alone. And we consider that the team we have, both at management and sub-management levels, is the greatest asset that we have.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT WHICH IS THE CASINO IN CONSTANTA.

We are close to finishing the design stage. It’s been a very hard work because we are talking about a building that is over 100 years old and which has resisted the most inadequate conditions for a construction. Strong winds, salt water, etc. To our luck, the foundation and resistance structure were designed by famous engineers of that time, among whom Anghel Saligny too. We have his original blueprints. But still, we are dealing with a very old building which, beside its historical beauty – beauty which we are going to bring up to date -, also has to provide comfort. By that I mean installations, air conditioning and everything related to comfort.

And then we have to execute the entire infrastructure required by the specific casino activity – rooms, lights, etc. It wasn’t easy at all as we didn’t simply take over the casino just to do a fresh paintjob on the fence and then to present it as good as new. We want to perform a genuine, full scale restoration.

WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE GROUP IN ROMANIA?

The group operates at global level and it is entirely up to us to create development strategies. If we create an interesting business environment for additional investments – and by that I mean the legislation, economical situation, stability – and, if we show that Romania is a better and more profitable destination than Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria, then we will surely have new investments. By what we have achieved, we can say that Romania is one of the group’s priorities and we hope things will remain like this, at least from the point of view of the business environment.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CASINO MAGAZINE?

I really am impressed to find in Romania a professional magazine from all points of view. A magazine fighting to change a certain rooted mentality, a certain perception that we have in relation to casino business.

HAVEN’T YOU CONSIDERED TO INSURE YOUR VOICE? IT’S WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.

I haven’t really. In fact, at the moment I have no insurance whatsoever and I would first have to pursue a health insurance.

WHOSE EAR WAS THE FIRST YOU THRILLED WITH YOUR VOICE, MAKING YOU KNOWN TO THE WORLD?

Well, of course that the first people who listened to me were my parents and my father was the one to open the door towards a career in music.

YOU HAVE BEEN SINGING SINCE FOREVER. AREN’T YOU TIRED OF ALL THAT MUSIC?

I have been singing since I was 10 and I don’t know how it would feel not to. I could never live without my music and I consider my life to be happy and I will always be grateful to God for that.

IS ANDREEA BETTER OFF BY HERSELF OR TEAMED UP WITH A PARTNER?

The band “Andre” was set up in my childhood and the entire project was meant for that period alone. I am very proud for the six platinum discs obtained in the period “Andre” was active and I don’t mind this association, but I am now much happier with my solo career, with my dancers and Petrisor.

WERE YOU SEPARATED BY MONEY, PASSIONS, BOYS OR PERHAPS FALSE SINGING?

It wasn’t the case for money or boys – it was out of the question at that age. In terms of our music we no longer seemed to agree and wanted different things, especially since her father, our manager back then, passed away and the project went into a free fall.

ARE YOU STILL HOLDING SMALL GRUDGES OR IS IT ALL WAY TOO OLD AND BURIED? It’s old and buried. IS THERE ANY MOMENT YOU WISH TO SING AS “ANDRE” ONCE AGAIN?

Never, since we separated. I wouldn’t get back to “Andre” because now I am a complete artist and I don’t need to become partners with anyone.

WAS SHOOTING FOR PLAYBOY A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE?

No, because prior to this shooting I had other occasions to do it, I mean shooting in my bikini, for the HLN catalogues, the clothing company I am brand image of and I have no problem with sexy picture – but never naked, no matter how much I were offered…

DID YOU AGREE TO APPEAR IN A MAGAZINE FOR MEN JUST FOR THEM OR IN ORDER TO WIN A BET WITH YOURSELF?

I don’t understand the question.

I didn’t shoot naked, there’s really not much to see, for me it was only natural to shoot in my bathing suit, I’ve been doing it since I was 13 years old.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER DOING NEXT?

I am launching a new album and a new video clip. And beside that, I have lots of concerts.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED RUNNING FOR THE “UNINOMINAL” ELECTIONS? BECAUSE THEY ARE FASHIONABLE NOWADAYS.

No, I’m only interested in my musical career.

HAVE YOU EVER ENTERED A CASINO?

I went in casinos several times to sing but I never gambled.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CASINO MAGAZINE?

An excellent idea for gamblers and it shows that the editors are true professionals.

Those nostalgic about Paris can rediscover the charm of the City of Lights even in the American city of gambling, the famous Las Vegas. The Paris Las Vegas Casino and Hotel offer those with a passion for thrills who reach Vegas a tiny bit of the typical Paris atmosphere away from the electric lights of the city also nicknamed Sin City.

THE CITY OF LIGHTS IN VEGAS

The Paris Las Vegas Hotel is situated 5 miles away from the center of the city, and its “Magnifique” from all points of view, Paris Las Vegas takes pride in its own Eiffel Tower or the Arch of Triumph, while to the typical Paris atmosphere also contribute the facades of the buildings around the casino, built after a French model.

The inside of the casino is enriched with illuminating iron poles typical for Paris, while the ceiling is painted such to create the sensation of a sky. The entire action within Paris Las Vegas Casino takes place at the base of a 50-story Eiffel Tower, and it can also be observed from the replica of the Alexandre III Bridge.

Those who are not afraid of strong thrills can climb all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Vegas, for superb panoramic views of the city, and halfway up to the top they can try a typically Parisian meal at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.

The way to the casino, on the alleys on Le Boulevard, are full of charming boutiques and of the well-known Parisian cafes.

In the casino area there is also a replica of La Fontaine des Mers, while the façade of the casino building reminds of the Opera House in Paris and of the grand Louvre. The inside of the casino is decorated, beside the small-scale replica of the Alexandre III Bridge in Paris, with art-nouveau sculptures and impressionist paintings.

The casino offers over 100 playing tables, among which Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, 2200 slot machines and video poker machines, high-stake slots, high-stake playing tables, a poker room and the possibility of placing sport bets and race bets in a specially designed area, with 265 seats and equipped with 221 TV sets and 11 huge screens.

The project Paris Las Vegas was announced for the first time by Bally’s Entertainment, the owner of Bally Las Vegas.

The construction began in April 1977, and the opening of the casino took place in September 1999, occasion on which there were fireworks launched from the Eiffel Tower. The lights of the Paris in Vegas were then turned on by one of the most admired French women of all times, Catherine Deneuve. The cost of the construction, covering a surface of 97.000 square meters, added up to 785 million dollars.

The rooms are equipped with French inspiration furniture and marble bathrooms, with separate bath tub and shower. The Ball Room, built after the model of the Mirror Rooms in Versailles, is the greatest room without poles in Nevada, having a capacity of 8000 persons, for receptions.

The Parisian atmosphere is also reflected by the outfits of the employees of the hotel, the waitresses wearing French military caps, and the safety personnel being dressed in French gendarmerie uniforms.

Nu există pasionat de jocuri de noroc care să nu fi mers măcar o singură dată într-o sală de slot machines. Până la urmă aceste aparate aduc cazinourilor profituri mai mari decat orice alt joc de noroc.

Oricine își poate permite, așadar, să se distreze în fața „automatelor“. Dar câți și-au pus întrebarea cum au ajuns ele până aici și, mai ales, pe ce sistem funcționează?! Ei bine, dacă pâna la jumătatea secolului trecut câștigurile erau cu adevarat aleatorii, o dată cu apariția sistemelor electronice totul s-a schimbat.

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