Oops, Oops, Oops

Volunteerism and community participation has changed over the years. It’s getting harder for charities to get people to commit their time to fundraising, and in the specific case of casinos, there’s something about them that scares people away. The issue is, if volunteer requirements for the casinos aren’t met, the casino is not allowed to open. And there are further rules about who can and cannot volunteer for certain positions within casinos. Charities need casino advisors to double or triple check that everything is ready for the big night. If they’ve been doing events long enough, casino chairpersons will know it’s impossible to plan for everything that can go wrong but experienced advisors will at least prevent the most common errors. 

This episode of Raising the Stakes focuses on the difficulties charities face in finding volunteers, but casino advisor Jeffrey Dawson has a fix when it’s down to the wire. They are volunteers that he calls “casino angels” and they’re to be used when the chips are down… ie: only if absolutely necessary. Members from charities in Alberta; Mark Fournier, TerryLee Ropchan, and Sean Fraser are back to talk about the casino events themselves, leaning on advisors for support, and being prepared (“it’s organized chaos”) and on that subject, Jeff talks about the time a fire broke out at a casino. There was an evacuation and everything. Jeff was ready for it. Volunteers need good training, even when there isn’t an emergency. 

And remember, you’re at a casino. At least try and have a little fun.

Raising the Stakes: Episode 3 “Oops, Oops, Oops”

Guests

Mark Fournier, Treasurer for Wild Rose Humane Society

TerryLee Ropchan, Executive Director for The Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre

Sean Fraser, Executive Director of the Evergreen Theatre Society

About Jeffrey Dawson & Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated

Jeffrey Dawson is the owner and operator of Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated. Trained and registered as a Dual-Advisor, Jeff can provide Cash Cage Advisor and Count Room Advisor services to any organization, and he has experience in every casino in the province. Jeff helps charities prepare the paperwork for their licensed casino event. Depending on their location, qualifying for a licensed casino event may take as little as 12 months, or at worst, may take five years or more. 

Alberta Casino Advisors serve charitable and religious organizations throughout the province.

They are a registered Gaming Worker Supplier that is licensed through Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). They operate throughout Alberta with expertise and experience in all nineteen traditional casinos, and Host First Nations casinos.

Visit https://albertacasinoadvisors.com/ to learn more.

Getting Serious with AGLC

Working with the government can be a challenge, even unforgiving. But charities in Alberta depend on the process for fundraising through casinos. There are so many rules and regulations, a casino advisor is necessary to help make sense of it all. In this episode of Raising the Stakes, we get into the complexities of navigating the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) as a charitable group. Casino advisor Jeffrey Dawson explains the lengthy application process and where charities might make mistakes. If that happens, groups can be fined or lose their events. 

Members from charities in Alberta; Sean Fraser, TerryLee Ropchan, and Mark Fournier discuss their experiences with making deadlines, understanding that the proceeds of casino events come with stipulations, and the importance of good record-keeping. Once charities get booted from the circuit, it takes a long time to work their way back into the good graces of AGLC. Then, Jeff speaks about why being an organization and bringing an entire team of advisors to the table matters to charities. There’s a reason why they are incorporated and hold a Gaming Worker Supplier license.

Raising the Stakes: Episode 2 “Getting Serious with AGLC”

Guests

Mark Fournier, Treasurer for Wild Rose Humane Society

TerryLee Ropchan, Executive Director for The Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre

Sean Fraser, Executive Director of the Evergreen Theatre Society

About Jeffrey Dawson & Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated

Jeffrey Dawson is the owner and operator of Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated. Trained and registered as a Dual-Advisor, Jeff can provide Cash Cage Advisor and Count Room Advisor services to any organization, and he has experience in every casino in the province. Jeff helps charities prepare the paperwork for their licensed casino event. Depending on their location, qualifying for a licensed casino event may take as little as 12 months, or at worst, may take five years or more. 

Alberta Casino Advisors serve charitable and religious organizations throughout the province.

They are a registered Gaming Worker Supplier that is licensed through Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). They operate throughout Alberta with expertise and experience in all nineteen traditional casinos.

Visit https://albertacasinoadvisors.com/ to learn more.

That’s Why We Do This

In the first episode of Raising the Stakes, long-time casino advisor Jeffrey Dawson explores the significant ways the casino system is woven into the fabric of not-for-profits in Alberta. Casinos provide relief to many organizations’ mounting operating costs… in short, they help pay the bills. From veterinary costs and crime prevention awareness seminars, to educational musical theatre and providing community spaces for female entrepreneurs, the services these charities provide to their cities have a lasting impact. But it’s getting harder and harder to secure essential funding.

So it’s all the more important their casino events are properly planned for, which is where casino advisors come in. The road leading up to the event is filled with non-negotiable deadlines and logistical preparations, and to top it all off, there are rules to follow. Ignoring them comes with consequences. Charities simply cannot afford to lose their events. They need advisors who will provide expert guidance, innovative ways to simplify the process, and resources to draw from (extra volunteers). This episode underscores just what’s at stake for all the players involved.

Raising the Stakes: Episode 1 “That’s Why We Do This”

Guests

Mark Fournier, Treasurer for Wild Rose Humane Society

TerryLee Ropchan, Executive Director for The Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre

Sean Fraser, Executive Director of the Evergreen Theatre Society

About Jeffrey Dawson & Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated

Jeffrey Dawson is the owner and operator of Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated. Trained and registered as a Dual-Advisor, Jeff can provide Cash Cage Advisor and Count Room Advisor services to any organization, and he has experience in every casino in the province. Jeff helps charities prepare the paperwork for their licensed casino event. Depending on their location, qualifying for a licensed casino event may take as little as 12 months, or at worst, may take five years or more. 

Alberta Casino Advisors serve charitable and religious organizations throughout the province.

They are a registered Gaming Worker Supplier that is licensed through Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). They operate throughout Alberta with expertise and experience in all nineteen traditional casinos.

Visit https://albertacasinoadvisors.com/ to learn more.

Keywords

Trailer: Raising the Stakes

Why do charities volunteer in casinos, of all places, in Alberta? They do it to survive. This is what’s called the charitable gaming model. With potentially tens of thousands of dollars at stake that charities need to better help their communities, these events are too important to leave it to chance. There’s a lot that could go wrong. 

In Raising the Stakes, a podcast about helping charities navigate the casino system in Alberta, long-time expert casino advisor Jeffrey Dawson cuts through the noise and lays out the critical path to holding a successful event. Here’s how he helps: it’s about simplifying, streamlining, and taking all of the guesswork out of it, because planning a casino fundraiser can sometimes feel like an impossible task. 

Over the course of the series, we’ll hear from members of charitable groups who highlight their need for fundraising, the tumultuous state of not-for-profits in Alberta, and speak about going through the process from beginning to end. All are welcome at this table: from newer chairpersons who need hands-on guidance, to those who know exactly who and what they need to pull off the perfect event.

Learn more about Jeffrey Dawson and Alberta Casino Advisors Incorporated at https://albertacasinoadvisors.com/