6
Employee News Company News WORK’S A GAME. PLAY TO WIN. summer 2007 ast year, Borgata hosted more shows than Madison Square Garden. Robin Williams, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Chris Rock and Gwen Stefani are just a handful of the blockbuster acts that have made Borgata a major tour stop. In July, Billy Joel will make his first Atlantic City appearance in an invitation-only show for Borgata customers to celebrate the property’s four- year anniversary. “We’ve really been fortunate with our great success in branding Borgata as an entertainment destination,” said Borgata President Larry Mullin. “The property has literally become a regular stop on the tour route. Artists will say they’re going to play Florida, Boston, Philadelphia and New York. But they don’t say they’re going to play Atlantic City. They say they’re going to play Borgata.” Borgata’s three entertainment venues – The Music Box, Comedy Club and Event Center – are small in comparison to locations like the Garden. But the intimate nature of these venues has its own appeal. Borgata also has something other major venues do not – world-class dining, gaming, nightlife and other hospitality amenities. “We offer celebrities and guests a one-of-a-kind experience,” explained Noel Stevenson, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa’s Public Relations Manager. “You’re getting a Las Vegas-style destination experience on the East Coast with a luxury spa, hotel rooms, an amazing poker room, great restaurants. It’s like a one-stop destination, and they can make a whole weekend out of it.” Borgata has indeed become a special stop for some of the world’s top entertainers, and many other celebrities also come to take in the shows and enjoy the nightlife. Recently, when Maroon 5 performed at Borgata, members of the Black Eyed Peas came to town just to catch the show. Jimmy the L PLAY to Place BORGATA HOSTS ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST NAMES Fallon, Rosie O’Donnell and R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills were among the big-names who visited the property to see The Who perform. Many acts host parties at one of the property’s nightclubs in tandem with their shows. When the Black Eyed Peas performed at Borgata, singer Fergie held her solo album release party at mur.mur. After Velvet Revolver performed at Borgata, drummer Matt Sorum worked the crowd at MIXX as the guest DJ. Motley Crew’s Tommy Lee did the same. When REO Speedwagon performed at Borgata, the band later took the stage at Gypsy Bar in an impromptu mini-concert. “They like to come and have fun here, and to do things that they can’t do typically on tour,” said Larry. “When you have so much energy and so many different venues in one place, where you can have many little parties going on at once, it encourages that type of behavior, that spontaneous entertainment.” Joe Lupo, Senior Vice President of Operations at Borgata, has worked diligently on the entertainment program to secure some of the biggest names in the business. So much so that Larry joked, “When we hosted the Rolling Stones here for an entire week, Joe became the sixth member of the band.” Borgata’s public relations staff also works with several outside agencies to promote the property from many different points of view (from hospitality and food and beverage, to entertainment and nightlife) and brand it as a premier destination. And it’s working. Congratulations to all of Borgata’s associates for their success in making Borgata a true entertainment destination. GLADIATORS ENTER NEW ARENA RECENT BORGATA PERFORMERS ROLLING STONES BILLY JOEL JAMIE FOXX GWEN STEFANI THE WHO ROBIN WILLIAMS ROD STEWART KATHY GRIFFIN BOB DYLAN STEELY DAN DON HENLEY STEVIE NICKS ALICE IN CHAINS MARY J. BLIGE MAROON 5 BLACK EYED PEAS DENNIS MILLER LENNY KRAVITZ JOHN MAYER PAULINA RUBIO DIANA ROSS HARRY CONNICK JR. INDIGO GIRLS JOSH GROBAN DIANA KRALL LYNRD SKYNRD THE BEACH BOYS GOO GOO DOLLS LIONEL RICHIE THE MOODY BLUES CHRIS ROCK JON LOVITZ AEROSMITH STING he Las Vegas Gladiators, an Arena Football League team, announced in February their new home would be the Orleans Arena. Often recognized as one of the nation’s most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, Arena Football League (AFL) is America’s fastest growing sport. “The Orleans Arena is a state-of-the-art, world- class facility,” said Gladiators President and General Manager Sam Jankovich. “We felt that with the location of the arena and amenities that the Orleans Arena provides fans, this was the right move to make.” The Gladiators moved their entire football operations to the Orleans Arena corresponding with the opening of training camp on February 4. The team practiced in the north parking lot, where a full arena football field was constructed, including walls and turf. The Gladiators and the Orleans Arena also converted one locker room at the facility into a permanent home for the Gladiators year-round. This impressive home-field environment, coupled with the opportunity for players to stay onsite at the The Orleans, is great for acclimating young players to arena football, according to the coaching staff. Gladiators played weekly throughout the 2007 season, which ran March through June. The Orleans Arena is also home to the Las Vegas Wranglers professional hockey team. With the Gladiators now settled in, it is another great opportunity for the Las Vegas community to enjoy their local professional sports teams at the Orleans Arena. T B ill with q &a oyd Page 2 UNLV Scholarship Recipients Page 3 Jamie Foxx Rick Springfield The Who’s, Roger Daltrey “Borgata has become a place where celebrities feel comfortable to be themselves,” Larry Mullin, President and COO Diversity Update Page 2 Water Smart Tips Page 3 Annual Report Athletes Page 2 Page 2 A Special Day of Competition 401k Update Moving Up & Page 3 Concierge Golden Keys Award Fold out Page 3 Page 4 Sam’s Town Habitat for Humanity House SAM’S TOWN LAS VEGAS dominates the Las Vegas locals market! Voted number one by the readers of Casino Player Magazine for “Best Overall Hotel Casino”. Boyd Gaming’s 17 properties received 210 awards in Casino Player’s “Best of Gaming” edition! STAY TUNED FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE IN THE FALL ISSUE OF THE BUZZ ...

Page 3 Fold out Page 4 Page 3 Page 2 Page 3 Page 2 Page 3 ...static.boydgaming.net/boydgaming/media/downloads/buzzsummer07.pdfJoSh gRoBan diana KRall lynRd SKynRd the Beach BoyS goo

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Employee News Company News

W o r k ’ s a G a m E . P l a y t o W i N .

s u m m e r 2 0 0 7

ast year, Borgata hosted more shows than Madison Square Garden. Robin Williams, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Chris Rock and Gwen Stefani are just a handful of the blockbuster acts that have made Borgata a major tour stop. In July, Billy Joel will make

his first Atlantic City appearance in an invitation-only show for Borgata customers to celebrate the property’s four- year anniversary.

“We’ve really been fortunate with our great success in branding Borgata as an entertainment destination,” said Borgata President Larry Mullin. “The property has literally become a regular stop on the tour route. Artists will say they’re going to play Florida, Boston, Philadelphia and New York. But they don’t say they’re going to play Atlantic City. They say they’re going to play Borgata.”

Borgata’s three entertainment venues – The Music Box, Comedy Club and Event Center – are small in comparison to locations like the Garden. But the intimate nature of these venues has its own appeal. Borgata also has something other major venues do not – world-class dining, gaming, nightlife and other hospitality amenities.

“We offer celebrities and guests a one-of-a-kind experience,” explained Noel Stevenson, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa’s Public Relations Manager. “You’re getting a Las Vegas-style destination experience on the East Coast with a luxury spa, hotel rooms, an amazing poker room, great restaurants. It’s like a one-stop destination, and they can make a whole weekend out of it.”

Borgata has indeed become a special stop for some of the world’s top entertainers, and many other celebrities also come to take in the shows and enjoy the nightlife. Recently, when Maroon 5 performed at Borgata, members of the Black Eyed Peas came to town just to catch the show. Jimmy

the

L

PLAYtoPlaceBorgata hosts eNtertaiNmeNt iNdUstrY’s Biggest Names

Fallon, Rosie O’Donnell and R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills were among the big-names who visited the property to see The Who perform.

Many acts host parties at one of the property’s nightclubs in tandem with their shows. When the Black Eyed Peas performed at Borgata, singer Fergie held her solo album release party at mur.mur. After Velvet Revolver performed at Borgata, drummer Matt Sorum worked the crowd at MIXX as the guest DJ. Motley Crew’s Tommy Lee did the same. When REO Speedwagon performed at Borgata, the band later took the stage at Gypsy Bar in an impromptu mini-concert.

“They like to come and have fun here, and to do things that they can’t do typically on tour,” said Larry. “When you have so much energy and so many different venues in one place, where you can have many little parties going on at once, it encourages that type of behavior, that spontaneous entertainment.”

Joe Lupo, Senior Vice President of Operations at Borgata, has worked diligently on the entertainment program to secure some of the biggest names in the business. So much so that Larry joked, “When we hosted the Rolling Stones here for an entire week, Joe became the sixth member of the band.”

Borgata’s public relations staff also works with several outside agencies to promote the property from many different points of view (from hospitality and food and beverage, to entertainment and nightlife) and brand it as a premier destination. And it’s working. Congratulations to all of Borgata’s associates for their success in making Borgata a true entertainment destination.

Gladiators EntEr nEw arEna

Recent BoRgata

PeRfoRmeRs

Rolling StoneS

Billy Joel

Jamie Foxx

gwen SteFani

the who

RoBin williamS

Rod StewaRt

Kathy gRiFFin

BoB dylan

Steely dan

don henley

Stevie nicKS

alice in chainS

maRy J. Blige

maRoon 5

BlacK eyed PeaS

denniS milleR

lenny KRavitz

John mayeR

Paulina RuBio

diana RoSS

haRRy connicK JR.

indigo giRlS

JoSh gRoBan

diana KRall

lynRd SKynRd

the Beach BoyS

goo goo dollS

lionel Richie

the moody BlueS

chRiS RocK

Jon lovitz

aeRoSmith

Sting

he Las Vegas Gladiators, an Arena Football League team, announced in February their new home would be the Orleans Arena. Often recognized as one of the

nation’s most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, Arena Football League (AFL) is America’s fastest growing sport.

“The Orleans Arena is a state-of-the-art, world-class facility,” said Gladiators President and General Manager Sam Jankovich. “We felt that with the location of the arena and amenities that the Orleans Arena provides fans, this was the right move to make.”

The Gladiators moved their entire football operations to the Orleans Arena corresponding with the opening of training camp on February 4. The team practiced in the north

parking lot, where a full arena football field was constructed, including walls and turf. The Gladiators and the Orleans Arena also converted one locker room at the facility into a permanent home for the Gladiators year-round. This impressive home-field environment, coupled with the opportunity for players to stay onsite at the The Orleans,

is great for acclimating young players to arena football, according to the coaching staff.

Gladiators played weekly throughout the 2007 season, which ran March through June. The Orleans Arena is also home to the Las Vegas Wranglers professional hockey team. With the Gladiators now settled in, it is another great opportunity for the Las Vegas community to enjoy their local professional sports teams at the Orleans Arena.

T

Bill

withq&a

oydPage 2

UNLV Scholarship Recipients

Page 3

Jamie Foxx Rick Springfield The Who’s, Roger Daltrey

“Borgata has

become a

place where

celebrities feel

comfortable to

be themselves,”

Larry Mullin, President and COO

Diversity Update

Page 2

Water Smart Tips

Page 3

Annual Report Athletes

Page 2Page 2

A Special Day of Competition401k

Update

Moving Up

&Page 3

Concierge Golden Keys Award

Fold outPage 3 Page 4

Sam’s Town

Habitat for Humanity House

Sam’S Town LaS VegaS dominates the las Vegas locals market! Voted number one by the readers of Casino Player Magazine

for “Best overall Hotel Casino”. Boyd gaming’s 17 properties received 210 awards in Casino player’s “Best of gaming” edition!

STaY TuNED fOR COmPLETE COvERaGE iN THE faLL iSSuE Of THE Buzz ...

Billwi

thq&a

oyd

By Marianne Johnson

competitionSpecial Dayof

A

[200

6 A

nnua

l Rep

ort

]

more out of life. He stayed out of trouble and got into sports, participating in high school football, wrestling and track. Johnell received All-American honors in track and wrestling at Norfolk State University.

Inga Stasiulionyte is another inspiring example of the competitive spirit. During her last year of high school, Inga received an athletic scholarship to throw javelin for the University of Southern California. She left her native Lithuania to study abroad – without knowing any English – and graduated with a major in entrepreneurship and a minor in fine arts communication design. She is currently training for the 2008 Olympics.

The theme “On your mark. Set. Grow.” encapsulates Boyd Gaming’s position in a highly competitive industry.

“Over the last year, we have made great strides in positioning our Company

for success and continued growth in the future,” Boyd Gaming Chairman and CEO Bill Boyd remarked at the recent annual shareholders’ meeting. “And it was that type of thought-process that led us to the design of our annual report. We felt these athletes personified many of the attributes that define our Company – determination, commitment, preparation and the ability to dig deeper for the strength and skill needed to endure.”

six inspiring young

athletes were

photographed for the

annual report, and brief

profiles of each are

included in the text.

a pDf file of the 2006

annual report is

available online at

www.boydgaming.com

under “Investor

relations.” print

copies are also

available at the

corporate office; call Kristy

alward, public relations Manager,

at 702.792.7357 or email

[email protected].

Competition

TheSpirit of

o compete and win takes a unique mindset. Sometimes

the adrenaline rush that comes from success can carry you a long way. Other times, you must dig deeper for the strength and skill needed to endure. Always, you must be on the mark, ready for whatever might lie ahead, ready to grow. By embracing this mindset, we have positioned Boyd Gaming for long-term success, and this was never more evident than in 2006. (Opening Letter to Shareholders,

Annual Report, 2006)

In honor of this competitive spirit, the Boyd Gaming 2006 annual report includes real-life athletes and the theme “On your mark. Set. Grow.” to present the year’s highlights.

Athletes like Johnell Gainey – who is featured on the cover of the report – embody this spirit. Born and raised in the projects in Gainesville, Florida, Johnell said he knew early on that he wanted

T

am’s Town guests and racing fans got all revved up in March and June for NASCAR racing action. March featured the 10th Annual Sam’s Town 300

NASCAR Busch Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. From the celebrity-filled Speedway Children’s Charities NASCAR Driver’s Auction through the on-track action to the Official After-Race Party, Sam’s Town once again anchored the red-hot excitement for the action-packed weekend.

S

I t ’ s A l l A b o u t t h e h o r s e p o w e rSpecial events at Sam’s Town hosted dozens of top drivers and special guests, including Coca-Cola Racing drivers Michael Waltrip and Carl Edwards, Jack Daniel’s Racing Team driver Clint Bowyer, television and film star Mickey Jones, and ABC/ESPN Pit Reporter Jamie Little. Following the race, fans also flocked to Sam’s Town Live! for the Official After-Race Party featuring a concert by 1970s music legend Foghat.

National television ratings for the race, which aired on ABC, were significantly higher than the 2006 average network rating for NASCAR Busch Series events. The thrilling race to the finish line that saw Jeff Burton squeak past Kyle Busch (who crossed the finish line second… going backwards) was especially exciting since the Sam’s Town 300 aired directly up against the NCAA Basketball Conference tournaments and PGA, LPGA, boxing and motocross events.

In June, the Sam’s Town 400 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race was held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Several Sam’s Town Shreveport and Delta Downs management and staff members were on hand and treated their players to an exciting weekend full of racing and celebrating. In addition to a suite filled with all the amenities, players had the opportunity to be in “Victory Lane” after the race and participate in a champagne toast honoring the winner at a post-race celebration.

The 10th Annual

Responsible Gaming

Education Week (RGEW) is

coming up the first week of

August. Please explain to

our readers why this week

is so important.

Well, our business is the

entertainment business and

we want all of our guests to

enjoy themselves at our

properties. But, for a small

number of people, gambling

is sometimes a not-so-

enjoyable activity and can

become a serious addiction.

While we are not the root

cause of the problem, our

casinos are among the venues

where the addiction can be

carried out. As such, we have

a responsibility to inform both

our employees and our

guests where they can obtain

assistance. Simply stated,

one problem gambler is one

too many.

As one of the founders

of the National Center on

Responsible Gaming, our

Company continues to fund

its research into the causes

and potential treatments

for this addiction. In my

position as president of the

fundraising arm of the National

Center, I recognize the

importance of the work being

conducted and how essential

a public and employee

awareness campaign such

as Responsible Gaming

Education Week is to our

Business and our Company.

Did you submit an

essay or design a

poster for this year’s contest

in association with this

year’s campaign?

Yes, I did submit an

essay that will be included

in this year’s Responsible

Gaming Education Week

book. I’m looking forward to

reading the winning essays

and seeing the poster designs

from the contest. The

submissions were much

greater than the organizers

anticipated which made the

job of the judges extremely

difficult. I’m very pleased that

Boyd Gaming employees

were well-represented in

the contest, sharing their

thoughts and ideas, and even

prouder to announce that

two of our employees from

Par-A-Dice submitted

winning essays. Congratulations

to Jennifer Sharp, Employee

Relations Manager, and Teresa

Tiarks, Risk Manager!

I have always believed that

the feedback we receive

internally, from our own

staff, makes us a stronger

Company. Hopefully, their

words of wisdom and

display of artistic talent

regarding Responsible

Gaming will enable those

with a gambling problem to

seek the help they or their

loved ones need.

q.

a.

q.

a.

DIVersITY upDaTemaking strides

oyd Gaming recently took another important step in emphasizing our philosophy of total inclusion of our employees. In April, we rolled out our new diversity

training program, which we developed in partnership with Hubbard and Hubbard, Inc. This exciting new offering gives us another opportunity to show our employees how much we respect and support our Company’s diverse cultures.

The program helps build awareness and skills among our Company’s leaders to succeed in an increasingly diverse work environment and customer marketplace. Participants will be grounded on what diversity means and how it can increase individual, team and organizational growth and profitability. They learn how diversity links to Boyd Gaming’s strategic business direction, and they learn ways to promote respectful and inclusive workplace behavior. An inaugural training session was hosted at Par-A-Dice, and the leadership team there was enthusiastic and contributed immensely to the success of this initiative. During a four-day period, 170 employees, including general managers, assistant general managers, directors, managers and supervisors from all our Boyd Gaming properties, participated in the highly interactive program.

The Boyd Gaming Corporate training team is now facilitating half-day training sessions with all front-line supervisors at all our properties.

On a separate but related note, the Asian Chamber of Commerce recently presented its 2006-2007 Community Achievement Awards. I was proud to attend the award ceremony and accept the “Corporation of the Year Award” on behalf of Boyd Gaming. While receiving awards and praise is certainly not the motivation behind our efforts, it is validating and encouraging to be recognized for our work. We’re making great strides in our diversity initiatives so far in 2007, and you can expect to hear more exciting news and updates as the year continues.

B

ore than 1,700 Clark County student athletes gathered in May to

compete in Special Olympics Nevada’s Unified Schools Track & Field

Meet. For five years, this free public event has brought together both

disabled and non-disabled students for two days of fun competition.

Boyd Gaming has been a corporate volunteer supporter for this event since its

inception. On May 3, more than 100 corporate and Las Vegas property

employees were on hand to offer their time and support.

“For as long as the program has been around, Boyd Gaming has been a

tremendous supporter with regard to employee volunteerism,” said Maggie

Schwarz, Regional Director, Special Olympics Nevada. “Your team members are

always out in force and help the athletes through every element of the

competition process.”

M

Sams Town 300, Las Vegas

Clint Bowyer and BIll Boyd

Mov

ing

Up

an

d M

ov’n

On

ill

ust

rati

ons

© C

ald

er C

his

m

he need to conserve water in the desert is obvious. But did you

know data collected by the National Climate Data Center shows about 22 percent of the continental United States has suffered moderate to extreme drought this year? Even southern Florida, which gets more yearly rainfall than most of the country, is currently experiencing a drought and water restrictions.

To help communities throughout the country save our most precious natural resource, the national “Water – Use it Wisely” program and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) offer the following water saving tips.

• Check for leaks, indoors and out: Find and fix household leaks, which can waste water and money if undetected and can worsen over time. Also check irrigation systems for broken or misaligned sprinkler heads after you mow your lawn. Make sure they’re aimed at your landscaping instead of sidewalks and driveways.

• Convert turf to water-smart landscaping: Converting thirsty grass to water-smart landscaping can save 55 gallons per square foot each year. Plus, qualifying applicants in Las Vegas can receive a $2 rebate for every square foot (up to 1,500 square feet) and $1 for each additional square foot of lawn converted to water-smart landscaping.

• Use water-saving products: A rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers will eliminate unnecessary watering, and a drip irrigation system can water trees, shrubs and flowers more efficiently. Pool and spa covers help eliminate evaporation. (The SNWA has teamed up with local retailers to provide coupons and rebates on such products. Visit www.snwa.com to download money-saving coupons.)

• Follow mandatory watering restrictions in your area: Doing so will not only help conserve water, it will help you avoid costly fees and citations.

For more water-wise ideas, go online at www.snwa.com or www.wateruseitwisely.com.

Seth Brown Direct Mail Manager

Moving Up: Income Control Auditor (2003); Direct Mail Coordinator (2004); Direct Mail Supervisor (2006); Direct Mail Manager (2007)

Thought for the Day: After working in the marketing department at Sam’s Town Shreveport for the past three years, Seth has recently made the transition to Direct Mail Manager. His job duties include overseeing and maintaining the database, as well as designing and executing strategic and profitable direct mail programs. “This move has been an exiting time and I look forward to the continued opportunities here at Sam’s Town Shreveport and Boyd Gaming,” Seth said.

After Hours: Seth is originally from Oklahoma, but soon after graduation from college he made the

move to Shreveport. Seth and his fiancé, Kacie, are engaged to be married, and look forward to tying the

knot in June 2007. When Seth is away from work he enjoys reading and playing all types of sports.

Sara JamesonHuman Resources Director

Moving Up: Internal Communication Specialist, Sam’s Town Las Vegas (1998); Employment Manager, STLV (2000); Human Resources Manager, STLV (2002); Human

Resources Director, Suncoast (2007)

Thought for the Day: Sara, who is originally from Pennsylvania, received her undergraduate degree in communications from Penn State University. She decided it was time to escape the bitter cold weather and made the move to Las Vegas. While working at Sam’s Town, Sara received her master’s degree in human resources development from Webster University and graduated with honors. “Working at Sam’s Town for nine and a half years, I built many relationships both personal and professional, and I am looking forward to building those same types of friendships at the Suncoast,” she said.

After Hours: Sara and her husband, Tim, have a 1-year-old son, Kyle, who keeps them pretty busy. If she has any spare time, you can either find Sara on a stage somewhere performing musical theater or in front of the TV screaming for the Buffalo Bills.

John SouVice President and General Manager

After transferring between properties five times in his eight years at Boyd Gaming, John Sou could be described as a man on the move. He started his career with the Company in 1999 as

Food and Beverage Director at Par-a-Dice, moved to Blue Chip where he was promoted to Director of Operations, then worked for about nine months in

the same position in Las Vegas at the California and Main Street Station. He was then promoted to Assistant

General Manager of Treasure Chest, and finally moved up to Vice President and General Manager back at Par-a-Dice. John is now headed back to Las Vegas as Vice President and General Manager of Fremont. Phew!

“The best thing about moving around is that I got to meet all kinds of different people within our Company and learned from some of the best and brightest that we have in our Company,” John said. One thing he learned is how different the business can be in each jurisdiction.

“I got to travel to different jurisdictions and see how they each do business a little differently. Boyd Gaming is alive and well in all these jurisdictions, and Boyd Style is alive and well in all our casinos. So one is different, and one is constant.”

With his most recent move to Vice President and General Manager of the Fremont in May, John is happy to be back home in Las Vegas, where he grew up. He is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, and to enjoying the warm Las Vegas sunshine.

“I’ve been through a hurricane and some pretty good snow storms,” he laughed. “The weather here at home is a nice change. It’s good to be home.”

Kelly EdwardsDirector of Hotel Operations

Moving Up: Pool Attendant (1991); Front Desk Clerk (1991); Front Desk Supervisor (1993); Front Desk Manager (1996); Director of Hotel Operations (2002)

Thought for the Day: Kelly joined the Company fresh out of high school. After working poolside for the summer, he wanted more. Kelly was offered a position working the front desk graveyard shift, and he “jumped on it.” Through the years, he has worked his way up the ranks by continually asking questions and seeking out challenges. Kelly enjoys interacting with and getting to know guests. In fact, he says the customers are a big part of what continues to make his job rewarding after all these years.

After Hours: A golfer and avid rodeo fan, Kelly also enjoys traveling with his family. He and his wife like to take their three children to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to stay with his parents at a lakeside retreat. “It’s a great way to just relax, fish, sit by the lake and enjoy some quiet time with your family,” he said.

oyd Gaming has recently implemented changes to its 401(k)

defined contribution plans that will make saving for retirement even easier than before.

The Company merged and consolidated its existing Boyd Gaming and Coast Casinos plans, and selected CitiStreet to be the new plan administrator effective February 9, 2007. CitiStreet provides all plan administration, customer service and education, and communications.

As a result of the changes, the plan now features:

A comprehensive array of investment options,

as well as personalized investment advice through CitiStreet Advisors. Curt Seifert, a CitiStreet representative dedicated to Boyd Gaming, is located

B onsite at our corporate headquarters.

Automatic enrollment for employees hired

on or after February 9, 2007. The default enrollment is 3 percent of eligible pay, and the default investment option is an age-based fund determined by the participant’s age. The enrollment takes effect approximately 45 days after eligibility requirements are met. Employees can also request automatic increases to their deferral rate.

New employer match of 50 percent up to

the first 6 percent of your pay that you contribute. Employer match is deposited every pay period. Employees hired on or before February 8, 2007 are 100 percent vested; and employees hired on or after February 9, 2007, follow a 5-year vesting schedule.

Saving for Retirement Just Got Easier

T

WATER SMARTTIPS

fooD for THougHT

Call CitiStreet toll-free.Boyd Gaming employees:

877.738.2693Borgata employees: 888.267.4738

Or go online.http://boydgaming.csplans.com

http://borgata.csplans.com

401(k) Questions?

Moving up & over

Kathy CaudellDirector of Workforce and Diversity, Corporate Moving up: Coast Casinos Training Director (1997); HR Director, Suncoast (2000); HR Director, South Coast (2005); HR Director, Suncoast (2006); Director of Workforce and Diversity, Corporate (2007)

Thought for the Day: Kathy enjoys the challenging and dynamic nature of the casino industry, as well as being able to work with people from all over the world and every walk of life. “I appreciate the fact that, since my first day in this company, I’ve learned from employees at every level of the organization and

that I continue to learn everyday,” she said. As

HR Director, Kathy opened Suncoast in 2000 and South Coast in 2005.

Kathy noted that she has had several mentors who have helped her along the way. During her 10 years with the Company, her managers have supported her in earning certifications as a Professional in Human Resources and Senior Professional in Human Resources. One of the most influential people during her tenure has been David Ross, Coast Casinos, COO. “His training and guidance has been invaluable to me,” she said.

Boyd/Ruvo Scholarship recipients, from left, are Jacquelynn Brown, Shaneka Giscombe, Kandice Flanary, Cristian Curiel and Boyd Gaming Senior Vice President Marianne Johnson. Seated, from left, are Chairman and CEO Bill Boyd and President and COO Keith Smith. Not pictured, but also in attendance were Boyd Gaming VP’s, Gina Polovina and Bob Gerst.

DID YOU KNOW?

n April, several key Boyd Gaming leaders joined four University of Nevada Las

Vegas (UNLV) scholarship students for lunch at the Las Vegas Country Club to provide some mentorship and guidance as they looked forward to graduation in May and December 2007.

The Boyd/Ruvo scholarship for the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at UNLV was created in January of 2002. Up to four scholarships, in the amount of $3,000 each, are awarded annually to full-time students who are pursuing a degree in the College of Hotel Administration. The scholarships are administered by UNLV’s Student Financial Services department. Preference is given to underrepresented ethnic minority students, and recipients are encouraged to pursue internships or employment opportunities with Boyd Gaming.

I

Borgata was listed as the “Best gambling

spot” in New York Magazine’s annual “Best of”

edition in March 2007. way to go!

Sam’s Town Live at Sam’s Town Shreveport boasts

a new signature drink – The great samtini – a true

pomegranate martini that mixes the sweet-tart taste of

this fruit in a popular martini.

DID YOU KNOW?

Boyd Buzz Team ediTor: ROB STILLWELL, CORPORATE / assisTanT ediTor: KRISTY ALWARD, CORPORATE.Boyd GaminG ProPerTy ConTriBuTors: “D” ALEXANDER SCOTT, BLUE CHIP / MIKE FACENDA, BORGATA / ALEXANDRA TOCCI, CALIFORNIA/FREMONT/MAIN STREET STATION / KORTNEY CARRIER, JEANNE ROGERS, DANIA JAI-ALAI / MARTY FLEISCHMAN, DELTA DOWNS / KATE CHRISTMAN, SHEREE CUNNINGHAM, SANDI RICHARDSON, ELDORADO/JOKERS WILD / LYNNE RAVENSCRAFT, GOLD COAST / LANI DEJESUS, JIM SEAGRAVE, THE ORLEANS / CORI SEGLER,

JENNIFER SHARP, PAR-A-DICE / PATRICK FITZGERALD, SAM’S TOWN LAS VEGAS / NICOLE WHITTINGTON-SHANNON, SAM’S TOWN TUNICA / DONALD CASPER, LEIGH POLANSKI, SAM’S TOWN SHREVEPORT / GLENDA ZUHSE, JULIE JUNEAU SUNCOAST / LISA GARES, TREASURE CHEST / BILL SMITH, RUSSELL GOUVEIA, VACATIONS HAWAII CorPoraTe ConTriBuTors: GINA POLOVINA, JUDY BANKS, INDU FAIRBANKS, LES LEONARD, MAC MCQUEEN

he employees at Sam’s Town Shreveport have been busy this past

spring volunteering their time to help construct the 2007 Sam’s Town Habitat House. This year’s house involved the coordination and help of approximately 30 employees each day of the building process. The

Sam’s Town Habitat for Humanity House By Julie Juneauhen Chris Gibase, Boyd Gaming’s Senior Vice President of Operations, arrived in Dania Beach to help with the transition of the newly acquired Dania

Jai-Alai in Florida, he became intrigued in the Basque sport.

“Great sport, but it’s harder than it looks,” said Dania Assistant General Manager Marty Fleischman, and he issued a challenge. “I’ll bet you can’t hit that enormous 50-foot front wall and you can stand 10 feet away. I’ll even give you three tries.”

The jai-alai court is almost 60 yards long, and standing that close seemed like a sure thing. Chris, who has been known to play (and win) a few Texas Hold’em tournaments, couldn’t resist the bet.

After tying on the cesta (basket), his first throw went completely sideways; the second went straight down; and the third throw fell about five feet short. Somewhat humbled and with a greater respect for “The World’s Fastest Game,” Chris was no match for the challenge. Marty said, “It was like having pocket aces, and

I knew you weren’t going to hit the river or the front wall.”

groundbreaking ceremony for the house was held May 10.

Building the Habitat House has been a rewarding experience for all employees involved and also enabledthe Sam’s Town Shreveport team to make a positive impact in the community.

hen SSgt. Andrew “Chip” Andersen of the United States Air Force emailed Gold Coast from the Ali Air Base in Iraq, he had a modest request – a

couple decks of playing cards for soldiers to enjoy during their down-time. He was thrilled when the casino met his request, and then some.

“You can not imagine the surprise I received today when I picked up a box from the post office with

144 decks of cards in there from your casino,” he later wrote in appreciation. “I can’t begin to thank you enough as the generosity your casino has brought to us. This will greatly increase morale and allow all of us to enjoy our down-time away from hostilities. While a couple other casinos sent one or two decks, you have shown the fighting men and women of the armed forces how much you care and gone the extra 10 miles to show your support of us. …your actions show a tremendous amount of compassion and loyalty to the United States Armed Services… Again thanks for showing support for the fighting service members abroad.”

A Big ThAnk You from irAqW The William S.

Boyd School of Law at UNLV was ranked among the top 100 law schools by U.S. News & World Report. The school was founded in 1997.

Community projects like this give Sam’s Town team members the opportunity to come together with a common goal and create a family-oriented atmosphere in the workplace. Our employees made it possible for yet another family in need to have a home they can call their own.

TW

Senior VP Loses a “Sure Bet”

THINK GREEN THINK GREEN THINK

News You Can UseDania Jai-alai celebrated the 10th anniversary of its card room in April. Poker players were given cake and champagne along with 10 days of prize drawings. The card room has come a long way from the original $10 pot limit games to the recent popular $5,000 Texas Hold’em multi-table tournaments.

The pavilion at sam’s Town shreveport received a dramatic facelift. The pavilion showroom and bar known as Sam’s Town Live was relocated and expanded, enabling it to immediately engage guests upon their entrance to the property. The new addition includes a contemporary circular bar that provides the most exciting nightlife atmosphere in town.

The 10th annual Lei Day Las Vegas 2007 Polynesie celebration was held the first weekend in May at the California. Activities included all the sights and sounds of Hawaii – from authentic Hawaiian arts, crafts, food

and drinks to live music,

chants, songs, dances and cultural demonstrations. A Vacations Hawaii booth featured a wheel for customers to spin and win prizes, as well as Miss Garden Island 2007 signing autographs.

Delta Downs recently debuted a new marketing campaign.

Borgata recently announced the appointment of four executives to its senior managment team. Dave Coskey has been named Vice President of Marketing, Jay Rosenthal has been appointed Vice President of Hospitality and Nicholas Kurban has been named Vice President Food and Beverage. In addition, Drew Schlesinger has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of The Water Club at Borgata, an 800-room upscale, boutique hotel on schedule to open in early 2008.

par-a-Dice hosted its 2nd Annual Rumble in Par-A-Dice in April, a boxing event full of non-stop excitement. In March, for the third year, Blue Chip hosted the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) Great Lakes Classic. Following the event, the WPBA posted highlights on its website, along with photos and generous praise for the property. The website reads: “Thanks to the great staff and support people. And by the way, when you visit, you really must stop in at William B’s. Without question one of the best

restaurants at any venue we attend. Just ask for the Chef’s Special,

whatever it is, you will love it. Tell Patrick [Cullars], the [restaurant operations] manager and host, that you

heard it here first!” The 10thannual outdoor ArtFest of Henderson highlighted Las Vegas “life off the Strip” with 200 fine artist displays from across the nation, three music stages and plenty of great food.

eldorado sponsored refreshments at the “Friends of the Festival” VIP area, and many Eldorado and Jokers wild employees were on hand to help out at the event held in May.

sam’s Town shreveport held its 3rd annual Employee Crawfish Boil Bash in May.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for management to give back to our team and show the employees how much we really appreciate them,” said Lesley Myers, Director of

Human Resources. The day was filled with games, food and team-building camaraderie. Employees enjoyed a crawfish-eating contest, hula-hoop contest, karaoke, music and more.

New Jersey resident Marguerit Pittman won $2.4 million on a nickel Wheel of FortuneTM machine at Borgata in March. The big payout marks Borgata’s fifth jackpot of more than $1 million and the

second jackpot of more than$2 million since opening. A former waitress who moved to Las Vegas in 1946 from Australia won a $10.7 million Megabucks® jackpot

at the Fremont in May. The 82-year-old woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said her last big jackpot was $12,500 at the Stardust 20 years ago. Senior Vice President of Operations

for the Central Region Hector Mon tests out the display for 2nd annual lawn 4mower promotion at par-a-Dice.

The Vegas Grand Prix – a three-day festival of speed and entertainment that encircles the heart of downtown Las Vegas had its inaugral run in April. It featured major healiners, a celebrity poker tournament,

an Easter egg hunt and more, culminating in the internationally televised 2007 series opener for the Champ Car World Series. In connection with the festivities, the downtown Boyd Gaming properties hosted several of Allegiant Airlines’ top selling agents. Main street station also hosted an Easter Brunch at the Garden Court Buffet for the Allegiant group of about 60 people.

Delta Downs is in the midst of its 52-day Quarter Horse Meeting for 2007. The session runs through July 15 and will wrap up live racing until the Thoroughbreds return to Vinton, Louisiana, on October 19. Louisiana Showcase Night

will take place July 15 when Delta

Downs

celebrates its home state with seven stakes races designated for equine athletes bred in Louisiana. The richest event will be the Grade I $150,000 added Lee Berwick Futurity, named in honor of the man who built Delta Downs in 1973.

Hats Off!Boyd’s Steakhouse at par-a-Dice won the 2007 Best in the Midwest award for upscale dining, presented by the Heart

of Illinois Hospitality Association for Hotel, Motel and Restaurants. Congratulations!

Taking Care of Community“Boyd,” the newest member of the East Peoria Police Department, is more than ready to take a bite out of crime thanks to par-a-Dice. The property covered the purchase and training costs – estimated at $10,000 – for the German shepherd to join the department’s K9 unit. Chosen for his great bite, energy level and aggressiveness, Boyd is being trained as a dual-purpose police dog with a focus in patrol and narcotics. He is pictured here with his partner, Officer Matt Bolton.

For the third year, all three downtown Las Vegas properties participated in the “April Foods Drive.” California, fremont and Main street station initially collected 515 pounds of food; and then a single employee donated 144 pounds more. Donations benefit Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, a United Way accredited and funded social services agency.

las Vegas localsgold Coast Mike growneyThis summer I will be retiring after being privileged to work at the Gold Coast for the past 13 years. As I prepare to leave, I want to send my thanks to Boyd Gaming and particularly to our family at Gold Coast. No one has ever had a better staff. I will miss you and thank you for making this “The place Las Vegans call home.”

The orleans Tony TaeubelThe Mardi Gras Girls made their debut at The Orleans in April. This colorfully-costumed corps will represent our hotel as promotions specialists at events throughout the year. They were selected from our regular Orleans team members by an independent team of professionals.

sam’s Town las Vegas Mike garmsWe saw record-breaking performance in the spring. This success could not have been reached without the support and effort of every one of our team members. We are looking forward to the completion of our new state-of-the-art Race and Sports Book, slated to open this fall. We have already begun construction and with this added capacity we will continue to provide our customers the experience they expect from Sam’s Town. suncoast Joe fuscaldoThe Suncoast is very proud to have been voted as having the “Best Paying Slots” and “Best Bingo” in the Las Vegas Review Journal. We continue to strive to be the best, and we know it is due to our employees that our customers keep coming back year after year. Thank you and keep up the great work!

eldorado/Jokers wild lief ericksonJokers Wild was chosen for the rollout and “Beta” test of the newest version of our company-wide slot system. The trial was successful, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board was impressed with the efforts of our team as they worked through this arduous process; many thanks to all involved! Eldorado recently introduced a new promotion, providing players “double” slot points on 1 cent video reel games; a 20 percent increase in play evidences the success of this enticement.

Downtown las VegasCalifornia David lebby“Aloha Spirit” is in the air. The 10th Annual Lei Day Las Vegas was a huge success! The celebration included two full days of authentic Hawaiian arts and crafts and delicious food and drinks along with amazing entertainment. The Cal has many more events to come for 2007.

fremont John repettiThe Fremont has had a great 2007 so far! We are happy to welcome our new Vice President and General Manager John Sou, who comes to us from Par-A-Dice. John brings a tremendous amount of experience to Fremont, and we are certain he will continue the success of the “Heartbeat of Downtown Las Vegas.”

Main street station David lebbyMain Street Station has gotten off to a great start this year. I am proud to announce that Main Street was recently selected the “Best Downtown Hotel” in the Las Vegas Review Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” readers poll! We are honored by this selection and continue to provide our customers with outstanding service. Thank you to all Main Street team members for your hard work and dedication.

Vacations Hawaii Bill smithFor the second consecutive year, readers of the Honolulu Advertiser have voted Vacations-Hawaii the Best of the Best Travel Agency in Honolulu. It was a privilege to accept this honor on behalf of everyone at Vacations-Hawaii and Boyd Gaming Corporation. Thank you to all employees who constantly contribute to our success.

Midwest and southBlue Chip Ted Bogich We achieved one of the highest slot volumes in our history in March. This was 7.5 percent above our previous record, which was set in February 2006, the first month with the new casino. This helped us finish the first quarter on a positive note, after some very difficult winter weather conditions.

par-a-Dice John souOur 2nd annual Mower-a-Day promotion was extremely successful in April. Check out the picture on page 4 of Hector Mon, Senior Vice President of Operations, enjoying our display! Also, read the Property News for highlights of our “Best in the Midwest” award for Boyd’s Steakhouse and the newest addition to the East Peoria Police Department: Officer Boyd. As I make my way back to Las Vegas, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Dave Daley, the new Par-A-Dice General Manager.

Delta Downs Jack BernsmeierDelta Downs rolled out a new ad campaign complete with billboards and TV commercials. The new design has a denim look with a new tagline, “Comfort. Any Way You Play.” This campaign is designed to make our guests feel that, at Delta Downs, they can come comfortable and relaxed to have a good time. See the examples of the artwork in Property News on page 4.

sam’s Town shreveport Kim etlandWe have a new program called, free slot play®, and no other casino in our market has it! It is now faster, easier and more convenient than ever for our guests to redeem their mailed cash offers. Rather than wait in line at the cage, they simply go straight to any slot/video poker machine and redeem their cash offers immediately! The transition was smooth with the assistance of our employees and their excellent customer service.

Treasure Chest Toni Demahy It’s Mudbug Time at Treasure Chest! Our employees were asked to tell us how they feel with the recent employee opinion surveys, and they responded strongly with more than 90 percent participation. As a result, we are having a crawfish boil to thank everyone for their continued support of the property and Boyd Gaming.

sam’s Town Tunica george stadlerI want to thank all the employees at Sam’s Town Tunica for their warm welcome and southern hospitality. In May, we celebrated our 13th anniversary with our loyal customers, new customers and hard working team members. I’m looking forward to working together and continuing the success the property has experienced in the past.

Dania Jai-alai John KnoxOur 54th winter jai-alai season concluded in April, with frontcourter Arriaga winning the 4th Triple Crown of his career. Congratulations, also, go out to Leo winning his first Backcourt Championship. Each season, we select charities to receive a contribution from the proceeds of designated jai-alai performances. We are pleased to have just forwarded checks to the United Way of Broward County and Lynn University of Boca Raton.

new JerseyBorgata larry Mullin Summer is upon us, and Borgata is the place to be. It has been close to a year since our $200 million expansion opened, and the property’s popularity has done nothing but soar. We have some amazing entertainment lined up in the coming months, including Bob Dylan, The Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Lewis Black, Carlos Mencia and an exclusive concert by Billy Joel in July. The Joel concert will coincide with our fourth anniversary celebration and the “topping off” of The Water Club hotel expansion, Borgata’s second hotel expected to open in early 2008.

Corporateadministration Bill noonan The last of the corporate departments moved to the Rainbow office in late April. Centralized Payroll, previously located at Main Street, also relocated to the Rainbow corporate office. All of the break rooms are now open on each floor. The remaining executives and their support staff moved to the new Howard Hughes office the first week of May. This activity paves the way for Echelon, opening 3rd quarter 2010.

properTY leaDers sounD off

A baseball manager was once asked, “What makes a great team?” Without hesitation he replied, “Great players.” So what makes a great player?

Teams don’t just automatically happen. Why? Everyone has to take responsibility and ownership for their actions and be willing to give and receive. Many want good feedback. Great players not only say, “Today I’m going to make a difference,” they ask, “Have I made a difference?”

After the game a great coach would tell the team to sit down for five minutes. He would ask, “What did you like about your performance today? What areas do you want to improve?” When posed with these questions, the players were often more critical of themselves than he was. The players would say, “I could’ve hustled or focused or tried harder.” The players took this internal examination to heart, and it was more effective than if the manager had told them to hustle, focus or try harder.

Good players know who they are and that they are part of the game. When this attitude is internalized, it becomes consistent. Coaches could say, “You did a great job today,” but great players don’t look at externals – they measure themselves internally. This is a responsibility of being great players.

Where do great players get motivation, energy and validation? It doesn’t come only from their manager. It takes practice, hard work and an “I can” attitude to become a great player. Sure, it’s nice to hear, “You’re doing a good job,” great players do a good job regardless of what others say. The coach may be busy and cannot always say it. Great players get validation internally by saying, “I did it. I made a difference!”

Every teammate can learn from this attitude. Everyone should ask, “What difference do I want to make in someone’s life, job or work today?”

True Colors Teambuilding offers the challenge and opportunity for team players to make a difference by understanding themselves better and learning more about others. Come learn about yourself, your fellow team members and how to become a better team player through True Colors Teambuilding. Visit www.boyd.net and click on “training schedule” for times and locations.

True Colors Teambuilding

When Borgata Concierge Donna LaRotonda was a junior in high school, the Taylor Business Institute visited and spoke to students. They introduced a new program offered at the school by The International Concierge Institute.

This year, Donna reached a crowning achievement in her career by becoming a member of Les Clefs d’Or USA, one of the most prestigious hotel organizations in the world. To become a member, Donna went through a rigorous application, testing and interview process which took many months to complete. Les Clefs d’Or (pronounced lay clay door) means “keys of gold” in French. The key displayed on a concierge’s uniform lapels assure travelers they are dealing with a seasoned professional who is dedicated to serving the guests’ every need.

“Donna is the only member of Les Clefs D’Or in Atlantic City and one of only two in the State of New Jersey,” Peter Finamore, Vice President of Hospitality at Borgata. “This is a really big achievement and signifies that we have established a link with the most important international network of concierge professionals.”

Upon graduation from the International Concierge Institute, Donna was chosen to intern at Marriott Seaview Country Club. She then worked for Harrah’s until 1989, when she had her first child. When her son was diagnosed with developmental delays similar to Cerebral Palsy, Donna did not return to work for some time. Her husband took on two jobs so she could stay home and be an advocate for their son, who is now 17 and graduating from high school. The couple has two other children, a son 14 and daughter 9.

After working weekends at the Renault Winery and watching Borgata be built, Donna was recruited to be a concierge by her manager at Renault who had already accepted a position with Borgata.

“After much thought, I committed to taking the position,” Donna said. “Borgata has proven to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I work with the greatest group of people and a supportive management team.”

Concierge Receives Prestigious GOLDEN KEYS

By Mary Zaborowski, Coast Casinos Training Manager

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Did you know that recycling one ton of paper saves

17 Trees

7,000 gallons of waTer?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), production of recycled paper versus virgin paper also accounts for significant energy savings and air pollution reduction. To do our part in conserving natural resources, the 2006 Boyd Gaming annual report was printed on recycled paper (approximately 22,000 copies).

Is your property a green scene? Each issue, the Boyd Buzz will highlight one property’s efforts in this important endeavor. To submit information about your property, email Assistant Editor Kristy Alward at [email protected].

THINK GREEN THINK GREEN THINK

and

“It was meant to be, the program sounded perfectly suited to my personality,” Donna remembered.”

TraInIng upDaTe