Family
Blake Sartini and Family
- Owner of Golden Gaming, LLC
- Nevada resident since 1964
- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Gaming, LLC, Mr. Sartini has overseen
the growth of Golden Gaming from a small slot route operation into a diversified gaming and entertainment company
Management
Blake Sartini
Chairman President Chief Executive Officer
Blake L. Sartini is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Golden Gaming, LLC. Mr. Sartini formed the company in October of 2001, following his purhase of southwest Gaming Services, Inc. Southwest Gaming Services was a small slot route company operating in the southern Nevada metropolitan area. Today, Golden Gaming is a diversified gaming and entertainment company, operating casinos, gaming taverns, and Nevada’s largest slot route.
Prior to establishing Golden Gaming, LLC. In 2001, Mr. Sartini had over 20 years of experience in the hotel and casino industry. Mr. Sartini started as a dealer in a downtown Las Vegas hotel casino; ultimately, he became the chief operating officer, and board member, of a major multi jurisdictional gaming company.
Today, Golden Gaming operates three divisions under Sartini’s leadership: Golden Route Operations (GRO), PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG), and Golden Casino Group (GCG).
In addition to his gaming interests, Mr. Sartini is co-founder, board member, and largest share holder of Nevada’s largest start up bank, Service First Bank of Nevada, which has now become a part of bank of Nevada.
Mr. Sartini and the Sartini family are also advocate’s and partner’s in the betterment of the Las Vegas community. He served as chairman of the Bishop Gorman High School fund raising committee which raised more than $50 million toward the construction of a new campus. Sartini is also a board member of the Unlv Foundation.
Additionally Golden Gaming and the Sartini family consistently partner with local charities including opportunity village, Bishop Gorman High School, and the Shane Victorino Foundation.
Mr. Sartini earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from the university of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Joe Romano
Vice President of Operations
Joseph Romano is Vice President of Operations for PT’s Entertainment Group.
Romano grew up with an appreciation for fine food and the art of cooking. From an early age, he knew he was destined to become a master within the culinary industry.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Culinary Institute of America and graduating with honors, Romano joined Aureole New York, one of Manhattan's most sophisticated fine dining restaurants. Under the progressive American food movement, and direction of Charlie Palmer, Romano quickly became Palmer’s right-hand man.
Having participated in a culinary tour throughout the United States to explore regional American cooking, Romano settled in Palm Beach, Florida to open Aqua Terra for the Charlie Palmer Group. Managing all aspects of the restaurant, he earned the Silver Spoon Award. He then relocated to his current home in Las Vegas to serve as executive chef for Aureole Las Vegas. Romano also opened JW’s Tavern at the Rio All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, and served as consultant to The Stirling Club at Turnberry Place and Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
In addition to Romano’s culinary involvement with PT's Entertainment Group, he is responsible for all day-to-day operations for the company’s taverns: PT’s Pub, PT’s Place, PT’s Gold, and Sierra Gold.
Tom (Tee-Are) Coleman
Assistant Director of Operations
Thomas Coleman brings with him an extensive background of experience and expertise to Golden Gaming, LLC. Prior to joining the Golden Tavern Group, a subsidiary of Golden Gaming, LLC, Thomas was born and raised in Portland Oregon. In 1987, Thomas who is also known as Tee-Are, moved to Las Vegas. He joined the PT's corporation in 1994, as the youngest Assistant Manager in the company and after assisting in opening several PT's locations moved up to Regional Operations Manager.
Thomas now serves as Assistant Director of Operations overseeing all 40 taverns within the Las Vegas area.
Kim Ast
Director of Advertising and Creative
As Director of Advertising and Creative. Kim drives the concept development and design for all Golden Gaming affiliates including Golden Route Operations, Nevada's largest slot route operator with more than 8,500 machines in more than 627 locations throughout the state; Golden Casino Group, consisting of the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino, Gold Town Casino, and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada; and PT's Entertainment Group (PTEG), Nevada's largest tavern operator with 40 establishments. PTEG’s Southern Nevada holdings include PT’s and Sierra Gold.
Kim ensures that advertising and creative needs of the company are being met by overseeing the execution of all creative materials, communicating effectively with creative and advertising team members, and being involved in all design stages from initial concepts to the completion of a finished product.
Prior to being named Director of Advertising and Creative in 2006, Kim served as marketing manager for Golden Gaming since 2005.
Prior to joining Golden Gaming, Kim Ast was part of the marketing team at Palace Station Hotel & Casino for two years and marketing manager for the Silverton Casino Hotel Lodge for nine years. Kim is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kim actively assists local charities including HELP of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, Shane Victorino Foundation, and Keep Memory Alive.
Jeff Martin
Director of Marketing
Jeff Martin is Director of Marketing for Golden Gaming, LLC’s Nevada tavern division, PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG). Martin oversees the marketing and research operations for PTEG consisting of 40 taverns in Northern and Southern Nevada.
Prior to working with Golden Gaming, Martin served as Director of Marketing for Tropicana Entertainment in Laughlin, Nevada and as Corporate Director of Marketing Analytics for seven regional properties for Pinnacle Entertainment in Las Vegas.
From June of 2001 to December of 2007, Martin held several management positions with Station Casinos, Inc. including Corporate Slot Analyst, Corporate Relationship Marketing Analyst, Corporate Operations Manager, and Director of Marketing.
Martin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Otterbein College in Columbus, Ohio
Chris Porter
Director of Interactive Marketing
Christopher Porter is the Director of Interactive Marketing for Golden Gaming, LLC. He oversees the marketing, advertising, brand development, public relations, and corporate partnerships for PT's Entertainment Group, Golden Route Operations, and GGI. In addition, Porter is responsible for the development and expansion of GGI’s interactive gaming initiative.
Prior to joining the company, Porter consulted for some of the largest online gaming companies in the world helping develop effective marketing campaigns. Porter has a proven track record in negotiating sponsorships, planning and executing gaming promotions, building strategic alliances, launching social media campaigns, guiding public relations activity, and overall performance. He is an experienced marketing leader with an in-depth knowledge of the online gaming space.
Porter earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
Gian Sapienza
Regional Operations Manager
Gian Sapienza is Regional Operations Manager for PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG). When hired, he brought more than 10 years of restaurant and bar management experience to Golden Gaming, LLC. Prior to joining PTEG, Sapienza served as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage for the Palms Casino Resort.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Sapienza moved to Las Vegas in 1993 and was employed as a food server at Planet Hollywood. He went on to work as the General Manager of Chicago’s Cactus Club, Multi-outlet Room Manager at Harrah’s Las Vegas and VooDoo Lounge atop the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, and Restaurant Operations General Manager of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
With extensive knowledge and experience, Sapienza currently oversees the daily operations of eight locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Sapienza dedicates some of his spare time to local charities including HELP of Southern Nevada and AFAN. He graduated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California with a degree in Drums & Percussion. In Sapienza's spare time he enjoys the art of photography. You can view some of his work at http://www.gfsimages.com.
Billy Bills
Regional Operations Manager
Billy Bills is Regional Operations Manager for PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG). When hired, he brought more than 14 years of restaurant experience to Golden Gaming, LLC. Prior to joining PTEG, Bills served as general manager for the café’s at Treasure Island and Mirage. Bills was nominated for team member of the month at both Mirage and Golden Gaming. He won team member of the month at Golden Gaming in March 2011.
With extensive knowledge and experience, Bills currently oversees the daily operations of eight locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley as well as 34 kitchens making sure their food cost is inline.
Bills dedicates some of his spare time to local charities including HELP of Southern Nevada and Opportunity Village.
Bills is an extreme sports fan and currently works and lives in Las Vegas with his fiancé and his two boys, three dogs, and three turtles.
Shawn Donovan
Regional Operations Manager
Shawn P. Donovan has worked with PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG) since 1996. When hired, he brought an extensive background of experience and knowledge to Golden Gaming, LLC. Prior to joining PTEG, he served as Sergeant in the United States Air Force in the 820th Red Horse Squadron at Nellis AFB, and on the management team of Big Dog's Bar & Grill.
Donovan served as Assistant Manager and General Manager before his promotion to Regional Manager for seven taverns throughout the Las Vegas area. In 2005, Donovan transferred to Reno as Northern Nevada’s Regional Division Manager and controlled operations for eight tavern locations including Sierra Gold, Sierra Junction, Sparky's Sports Bar & Grill, and Gold Bar.
In 2007, Donovan rejoined the Southern Nevada division and currently oversees operations for eight locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley as Regional Operations Manager.
Jason Anderson
Regional Operations Manager
Jason Anderson is regional operations manager for PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG). \Prior to joining PTEG, Anderson served as Motorola dealer for Mcintosh Communications and Questar Radio Company.
In 1996 Anderson joined the PTEG family as a graveyard bartender and worked his way up to a tavern manager. Anderson left PTEG from 2004 to 2009 to start his own detail shops in Boulder City, Henderson and Summerlin. Anderson missed the interaction of his loyal guests and came back in 2009. Anderson was promoted to regional operations manager in 2013 after overseeing nine locations as the tavern manager.
With extensive knowledge and experience, Anderson currently oversees the daily operations of eight locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Anderson dedicates some of his spare time to local charities including HELP of Southern Nevada and Opportunity Village. He is a native of Henderson and graduated from Basic High School.