Lecture Notes: Interview with Paul on Recruitment and the Land-Based Industry in the UK

Introduction

• Host: Tim
• Guest: Paul
• Main Topics: Recruitment and the land-based industry in the UK
• Paul’s Background:
  • Started in betting shops at age 18
  • Became a casino dealer after college
  • Self-employed for the past 14 years
  • Opened 11 new casinos
  • Co-founded GRS Recruitment with Stephen Jackson 8 years ago

Recruitment in the Gaming Industry

Current Landscape

• Described as a mess, particularly for casino staff, junior management, and senior management
• **Junior Management Issues: **
  • Staff get paid minimum wage
  • Many left the industry during COVID
  • Brexit impacted workforce from Eastern Europe
  • Difficult to find qualified junior staff
• **Senior Management: **
  • Recruitment not as difficult at senior levels
  • Some operators are hiring from outside the industry

Challenges for Recruitment Companies

• **Speed and Nimbleness: **
  • Quick response times are crucial for securing talent
  • Example: Taking too long to follow up can result in losing candidates
• **Market Dynamics: **
  • Skills market shifting from a buyer's market to a seller's market
  • Need to update recruitment practices

Tips for Candidates

• Networking:
  • Crucial for landing high-level roles
• Compliance Awareness:
  • Especially important for roles within highly regulated industries like gaming

General Advice for Recruitment

• **For Employers: **
  • Must be nimble and quick in the hiring process
• **For Candidates: **
  • Stay connected and well-networked
  • Understand compliance and regulatory issues

Land-Based Casino Industry in the UK

Current State

• Reopening After COVID:
  • Mixed results in the first reopening phase
  • Leisure customers slower to return compared to gamblers
  • Attendance lower but spending higher
• Operational Changes:
  • Focus on players who spend more
  • Increased minimum bets to manage staff and maximize revenue

Challenges and Adaptations

• **Table Games and Electronic Games: **
  • Shift towards more profitable electronic games
  • Tables becoming too expensive to run for average players
• **Customer Demographics: **
  • Decreased number of traditional players
  • Competing with electronic and arcade games

Future Trends

• **Efficiency Improvements: **
  • COVID taught operators to be more efficient
  • Focus on high-spending customers
• Regulatory Impacts:
  • Gambling review and potential for more slots in casinos
• **Industry Risks: **
  • Potential loss of 'mystique' that makes casinos unique
  • Risk of becoming too electronic and losing traditional appeal

Paul’s Insights

• Future of casinos linked to balancing electronic and table games
• Uncertain future similar to other gaming sectors like bingo
• Continuous monitoring of changes and adapt accordingly

Final Thoughts

• Key Predictions for 2022:
  • Continued COVID recovery
  • Emphasis on electronic games
  • Watching how the industry adjusts to new norms

Miscellaneous

• Background: Signed Michael Vaughan cricket shirt

Conclusion

• Tim thanks Paul for his insights
• Discussed future interviews and columns in the magazine