This story is part of our August 2024 issue. To subscribe, click here.

This story is part of our August 2024 issue. Click here to subscribe.

Everyone knows the old maxim about casinos: “The house always wins.” Except it’s not really true, says Michael J. Facenda, president of Sky River Casino in Elk Grove. “We don’t always win. We have folks leaving here every day as winners,” he says. “We actually give away quite a bit of money every day. And more importantly, we create good experiences, which we consider part of the winning equation.” 

Facenda, who’s from New Jersey, began his career in the casinos of Atlantic City and has been in the industry ever since. Now he oversees 1,600 employees, 14 food outlets, 82 table games and 2,100 slot machines. These numbers will soon grow, as Sky River’s upcoming “Phase 2” expansion (scheduled for 2027) includes a pool, luxury spa and 300-person hotel.  “When we complete that, our goal is to be the most lucrative and attractive mega facility in all of California.”

Favorite to-do list system: An old-fashioned legal pad, simple and sound. “I write a task in the left column,” and then “I put a check-mark once it’s complete.” 

Favorite casino moments: When he gravitates towards a hot table, just to soak in the vibes. “What I enjoy most is an active craps or blackjack table that’s just having fun. You can hear that from 20 yards away.” The house might not be “winning,” but he doesn’t care. “We want winners. We want people to have fun. Strangers who are high-fiving each other. I kind of like to be part of that when I can.”

7:00AM – Wakes up. “I’m not necessarily an early riser. I don’t know many casino industry people who are.” Works out in his home gym — either weights or the Peloton. 

9:00AM – Takes the back roads for his 7-mile commute in Elk Grove; calls his mother for a catch-up (for her it’s lunch in New Jersey) or listens to some country music. 

9:15AM - Arrives at Sky River. Quick sync-up with his executive assistant. Then he’ll make the rounds and walk through the casino, as he views face time as critical. “If team members throughout the building don’t see me for several days, they’ll ask, ‘Where have you been?’ I like to be visible.”

9:30AM – Pops in the kitchens of restaurants like Dragon Beaux, where he’ll speak with the chefs, asking if they need anything. “One of my favorite places is the pastry shop,” he says, chuckling. “Thus the Peloton bike.”

10:00AM – Like most top executives, the bulk of his day is spent in back-to-back meetings, often with his staff of 14 vice presidents. These include the usual VPs you’d expect (marketing, finance, HR) but also the VP of table games and the VP of surveillance. 

11:00AM – A frequent agenda item: which new games to purchase. “We are constantly looking at what products are coming out on the marketplace,” says Facenda. “We’re constantly evaluating the 2,100 slot machines on the floor every day.”

12:30PM - Sometimes he eats at his desk, but often he enjoys one of the job’s true perks — lunch in one of the casino’s restaurants. “I’m pretty emphatic that I have to eat lunch.” Once a month, as a rare indulgence, he’ll “inspect” The Humidor Bourbon & Cigars. (A tough job, but someone needs to do it.)

2:00PM – Heads to the casino floor when he can, wandering through the maze of slot machines. The team physically rejiggers and rotates the locations of the slot machines every single day, based on their productivity calculations. “It’s a constant jigsaw puzzle.”

3:00PM – More meetings, such as discussing the financial review. “A lot of people from the outside looking in say, ‘Oh boy, you guys are doing so well.’ And in many cases that’s very accurate. But there are budgets and goals that have to be obtained.” 

4:00PM – Visits the pit bosses (the person who manages the employees who work in a casino pit) when he can, although this usually happens on weekends. He’ll ask about VIP customers, how they’re playing and if the boss needs anything. (Throughout the day, Facenda receives hourly updates on statistics from the gaming floor.)

6:30PM – Heads home and cooks dinner (often barbecue) with his adult son. Texts with his daughter, who’s attending the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and eagerly gets updates on her program. “It’s just really cool stuff, like what chefs she’s interacting with or that she’s learning to carve fish or beef.” 

8:00PM – He requests that his staff “over-communicate” with him — even on nights and weekends — so he receives constant texts, updates and notifications from the casino, such as whether a customer’s credit line should be extended. 

9:00PM – Catches up on news and sports, especially his beloved Phillies. “That’s not going to be met with open arms around here,” he says with a laugh.

10:30PM – Winds down with a book (such as Nelson DeMille’s “The Gold Coast”) before heading to bed.  

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