Jess Chavez — Founder of Sportsino™ and the Maximum Game team
Jess Chavez
Executive Leadership in the Global Gaming Industry. Jess Chavez is a seasoned international gaming executive with more than 30 years of experience leading high-performing casino operations across Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and maritime markets.
Executive Leadership in the Global Gaming Industry. Jess Chavez is a seasoned international gaming executive with more than 30 years of experience leading high-performing casino operations across Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and maritime markets.
General Manager – Hard Rock Casino, Punta Cana (2012–2016).
Jess held full P&L responsibility for tables, slots, staffing, service standards, gaming integrity, and operational policies.
During his career, he has launched international and European player-exchange programmes that significantly expanded the high-value customer base and delivered outstanding financial and operational results:• 49% year-over-year EBITDA growth, 10.5% above budget
• In-house Player Development profit growth from $3.16m to $6.03m
• Ranked #1 in Casino Customer Service across all Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos (CS Score 88.0)
• 102% overall Mystery Shop score (Casino Floor 105%, Cashier 109%, Slots 104%, Poker 107%)
• TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and Casino Player “Best of Gaming” Award
• Industry-leading staff loyalty: Employee Feedback Score 89 (vs. industry average 80), with 97% of staff recommending the property and 85% intending to stay 3+ years.
• In-house Player Development profit growth from $3.16m to $6.03m
• Ranked #1 in Casino Customer Service across all Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos (CS Score 88.0)
• 102% overall Mystery Shop score (Casino Floor 105%, Cashier 109%, Slots 104%, Poker 107%)
• TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and Casino Player “Best of Gaming” Award
• Industry-leading staff loyalty: Employee Feedback Score 89 (vs. industry average 80), with 97% of staff recommending the property and 85% intending to stay 3+ years.
His success at Hard Rock led to promotion to Senior Director of Casino Development for LATAM and the Caribbean.
When Hard Rock later refocused on the U.S. market, Jess pivoted to entrepreneurial ventures, including the development of 123Roulette.
Earlier Career Highlights: Jess began his career in 1985 in the UK VIP casino market at London’s historic The Clermont Club. He later joined Sol Kerzner’s Sun City in South Africa, contributing to the successful openings of Morula Sun and Carousel Sun. In 1992, he moved to Peru and launched El Condado, which rapidly became the country’s market-leading casino. He continued building market-dominant operations in Russia (Casino Imperial in St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg, plus a new venture in Vyborg) before gaining maritime gaming experience managing a cruise-ship casino with Spanish Cruise Lines. Returning to the UK, he held a leadership role with RANK, the country’s largest casino operator, where innovative slot-machine trials helped make RANK’s casinos the top revenue generators among a 54-property portfolio.
In 2006, he served as Casino Director at Crown Plaza in Maracaibo, Venezuela (the country’s largest casino), turning around operations challenged by security threats and internal theft within six months by recruiting elite surveillance and security expertise. In 2011, he became the Casino Director at the InterContinental San Juan in Puerto Rico by implementing a highly successful VIP strategy that paved the way for his appointment at Hard Rock.
Following earlier challenges, the strategy was redefined around the Sportsino™ brand and trademarks. Today the focus is on high-quality casino operations and advancing selected multi-casino management and development projects.
