CASINO FOCUS Betting on a Better Future
This month we break our own rules and head over the Atlantic to look in on Nevada’s Eureka Casinos and its vision for sustainable gaming and philanthropy.
Eureka, almost 1,000 team members now earn shares annually, completely free of contribution. These shares appreciate and are repurchased by the company when an employee retires or leaves, creating a powerful wealth-building tool.
OWNERSHIP THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Andre Carrier
t Eureka Casinos, business isn’t just business – it’s personal. Walk through the doors of one of their properties, and you’ll feel it immediately. The smiles are genuine. The service is intuitive. There’s a palpable sense of pride in every corner. That’s because the people greeting guests, managing operations, and serving meals aren’t just employees – they’re owners. In an industry often characterised by impersonal transactions and bottom-line thinking, Eureka Casinos stands apart as the only 100% employee-owned gaming company in the United States. Under the leadership of President and CEO Andre Carrier and Executive Chairman Gregory Lee, Eureka has built something rare: a company where profits serve people, not the other way around. “It’s a better way to do business, a better way to live, and a better way to build a legacy,” says Carrier.
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A LEGACY ROOTED IN COMPASSION
Eureka’s journey toward employee ownership started with a simple, human realisation. Carrier and Lee noticed something troubling: despite years of loyal service, many employees weren’t investing in their retirement through the traditional 401(k) plan. In fact, participation was just 18%. “As a family business, this realisation was a heavy burden,” Carrier reflects. “We knew we needed a paradigm shift, a way to empower our team members and ignite a passion for their financial future.”
That shift came in 2015 with the adoption of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a program created by the IRS in the 1970s to enable employees to earn ownership through shares in the company. At
12 JULY 2025
The effects of the ESOP have rippled through every level of the organization. Eureka’s employee turnover rate is just 20% - a dramatic contrast to the gaming industry’s 70-80% average. Carrier credits this to a culture where people feel genuinely valued. “Our team members aren’t just working for
a pay check; they’re building their legacy, one guest interaction, one project, one initiative at a time,” he says.
This culture of ownership shows up in unexpected ways: sabbaticals, recognition galas for years of service, and employee outings. It’s a workplace designed not just for performance, but for purpose.
A BUSINESS MODEL THAT GIVES BACK
That sense of ownership extends far beyond the casino floor. Through the Eureka Community Initiative (ECI), the company has invested millions into the communities it serves. In Mesquite, Nevada, where Eureka
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