Robert Allen was born in 1955 in Akron, Ohio and is the fourth of five children. At an early age, Robert developed a strong interest in music which led him to attend the University of North Texas graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor of Music degree. However, with encouragement from his brother Mike, a gaming management executive at Harrah’s, Robert shifted his career trajectory towards the casino gaming industry. Robert began his gaming career as a Slot Floor Supervisor in 1984 at Harrah’s Marina Casino. Two years later he joined the Tropicana Casino & Resort and spent the next 14 years with that organization ultimately rising to the position of Executive Director of Slot Operations.
In May 2000, Robert accepted an opportunity as the Corporate Director of Slot Operations for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, overseeing the slot operations for the Tribe’s two casinos – Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs located in central Minnesota. Robert was instrumental in implementing Ticket-in-Ticket-Out technology and upgrading the slot product, which significantly boosted slot revenue. He was also known for maintaining test banks and ensuring the latest games were available on the casino floor. A pioneer in his field, Robert was one of the first slot operators to share performance data and player preferences with slot vendors, fostering the development of higher-performing games that benefited both parties.
In early 2010, Robert joined Pinnacle Entertainment as Corporate Vice President of Casino Operations. In this capacity, he oversaw gaming activities across 16 casinos, including the newly acquired Ameristar properties. He fostered a collaborative relationship with each casino management team, promoting a unified understanding of gaming performance analytics and reports across the enterprise. Robert also played a crucial role in designing and developing the gaming floor for the new L’Auberge Baton Rouge casino, which opened in 2012.
After nearly 35 years in the gaming industry, Robert retired in April 2017. He now resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Mary Jane.