A JACKPOT OF SLOT KNOWLEDGE: A Conversation with Jolson Yee of Fontainebleau Las Vegas
By Steve Kieva
As Vice President of Slots at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Jolson Yee is helping shape the future of gaming at one of the Strip’s newest luxury destinations. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Yee oversees the resort’s slot operations, leading initiatives designed to drive performance, enhance the guest experience, and foster a strong, service-focused team culture.
Yee joined Fontainebleau Las Vegas in November 2022 as Executive Director of Slots, playing an instrumental role in preparing the resort for its highly anticipated debut. Prior to joining Fontainebleau, he served as Director of Casino Product and Performance at Resorts World Las Vegas, where he was part of the opening team responsible for developing and implementing the property’s next-generation gaming floor.
His gaming career began with MGM Resorts International, where he spent 14 years advancing through a variety of leadership positions, including Director of Slot Strategy, Director of Slot Analytics, and Director of Slot Operations. His background in analytics, operations and database marketing has provided him with a wellrounded perspective on the evolving casino landscape.
A graduate of University of Nevada, Reno, Yee studied economics, Asian gaming and gaming management—an educational foundation that continues to inform his strategic approach to casino operations today.
Casino Player recently had the opportunity to sit down with Yee to discuss the evolution of slot gaming, guest engagement, and what’s next for Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
CP: You’ve been with Fontainebleau Las Vegas since before its opening. How have you seen the resort evolve over the past few years?
JA: I’ve been lucky to be given the opportunity to open multiple properties. How we have evolved from opening to where we are now is not too different from what other new casinos face. Early on you have an idea of what your guests want but the reality can be different once they enter the building for the first time. We have learned more about our guests and Rewards members from opening in December of 2023 to now and guests can see this in the changes we have implemented to our Rewards program to make it more player friendly or to the physical layout of the casino floor to make it more energetic.
You started at Fontainebleau Las Vegas as Executive Director of Slots. What were your expectations when you were named Vice President of Slots?
This coincided with our opening in December 2023. I knew my expectations had to shift from a tactical opening mindset, which was focused on game mix, floor layout, product performance and team development to running a business unit that relies on so many others to succeed. I was expected to represent slots when it came to strategic planning and cross-department collaboration with our partners in marketing, IT, hotel and finance.
What is a typical day like for you?
The great thing about being in slots is that every day is different. You are constantly juggling projects with varying levels of priorities. Typically, my day starts by looking at recent performance and reviewing player data to ensure I have all the information needed to answer any questions that may come my way. I’m also reviewing situations from the prior day that may need my attention. It is also important to make time to be out on the casino floor to understand how the floor feels and to meet with the team. A large part of my time is spent in the office, where most of my impact comes from using data and our internal tools to manage performance, plan for projects, and support the team.
For those who may not be familiar, please explain what Slot Operations encompasses and what your responsibilities include?
The slot operations department is one of the most important revenue engines in a casino. At Fontainebleau Las Vegas we have 1,300 slot machines and we approach the management of each machine like its own business that requires specific overhead, marketing and performance reviews. This is the fun part of the job that utilizes data- driven decisions to optimize the slot floor. Supporting this is a small team that manages the technical operations and ensures everything is running smoothly 24/7, 365 days of the year. With that said, slot machines are a commodity. We have the same machines as every other casino on the Las Vegas Strip. What sets us apart is the elevated service our slot team provides and forming those important connections with every one of our guests.
Are there any strategies involved in choosing and placing a particular slot machine on the casino floor?
With as much data as we have it is a whole lot of science but it is also a little bit of art. You could move a slot machine five feet away and the performance drops in half. Every machine placed on the floor has many variables we need to contend with from its size, its lease structure, and even power consumption!
Bonus-driven slot machines that offer multiple ways to trigger features and rewards continue to resonate with players. What are some of the most popular games on your casino floor, and what do you think makes them so appealing to guests?
Hold-and-spin mechanics continue to be a core feature in our most popular machines. We’re also seeing many vendors develop their own version of triple-pot bonuses that have a perceived persistent element that do very well. We’re starting to see vendors develop true persistent feature games and we try to find the right balance when providing these offerings.
What slot promotions does the Fontainebleau offer?
There are several promotions that I want to call out that set us apart and are very player friendly. The first is our loyalty program itself, where we give back more in slot points than anyone else on the Strip. Every $2.50 of video and reel coin-in earns one slot point.
Additionally, we give back 5% on non-gaming spend—who wouldn’t want that! We also have a yearlong cashback promotion that allows our guests to earn $20 in cash for every 5,000 slot points, which can be redeemed during multiple redemption windows throughout the year and has no limit. Lastly, we recently pushed out a locals offer match whereby any local can show up to our rewards desk with a physical mailer they are receiving from a competing Las Vegas casino, and we will match up to $1,000.
What are your plans for the future?
I’ve been fortunate to build a career in slots that I really enjoy. Looking ahead, I want to keep learning, take on complex challenges, and play a part in developing the north end of the Strip.
Is there anything you would personally like to share with readers?
I think it is important, especially for anyone new, to always stay curious and take ownership in whatever you do. Curious people don’t wait for formal training and look for ways to solve problems that may or may not be their responsibility. I believe this has helped shape my career immensely and opened many doors of opportunity.
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