The Gun Lake Tribe has announced the hiring of Salvatore, (Sal) Semola as president and chief operating officer of Gun Lake Casino.
Semola comes to Gun Lake Casino with more than 40 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry, including experience at numerous successful Las Vegas properties. He also held management roles at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Cannery Casino Hotel, and Detroit’s Greektown Casino Hotel.
Most recently, Semola was the president and owner of Semola Consulting/Cornerstone Gaming Management, a casino consulting company.
Semola has earned several awards, including the Eastern Division of the Casino Management Association “Gaming Professional of the Year,” and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration “Industry Executive of the Year.” Semola has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, instructing casino management programs.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to work for the citizens of the Gun Lake Tribe, and to lead an incredible group of team members at the Gun Lake Casino,” commented Semola. “Gun Lake Casino is a beautiful property that is poised for tremendous growth that will produce mutual benefits for the tribe and local community.”
The naming of a new president comes as the tribe nears conclusion of a seven-year management agreement with Station Casinos, LLC, of Las Vegas, Nevada. The contract began when the property opened in February of 2011, as Station Casinos led the tribe through pre-opening operations and almost seven years of successful daily operations, and expansion projects.
Semola will work closely with the Tribe’s governing body, the Tribal Council, and the casino management team over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition when Station Casinos concludes its management responsibilities in February 2018.
“We are confident that the addition of Mr. Semola’s management capabilities to our established executive team will ensure the continued success and growth of the Gun Lake Casino,” said Scott Sprague, chairman of the tribe. “We thank Station Casinos for their years of management expertise and the solid foundation it provided for the tribe.”
Gun Lake Casino is located off Exit 61 on U.S.-131, halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The casino features more than 2,000 slot machines, 42 table games, a high-limit room, a food court, a 225-seat café, and a 300-seat buffet, along with bars, lounges, and live entertainment.
Gun Lake Casino is owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and is operated by the tribe’s management partner, MPM Enterprises, LLC, owned by an affiliate of Station Casinos, Inc. and private investors from Michigan.
