The global gaming community is in shock as news broke of the unexpected passing of Tony Santo, the visionary CEO and director of Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. 

Gateway Casinos Bids Farewell to CEO Tony Santo

Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, a prominent player in the gaming arena, confirmed the heartbreaking news. Tolek Strukoff, president of Gateway, expressed deep sorrow, saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tony Santo. You could often find Tony visiting sites and staff from dawn to dusk connecting about their work, families, and lives. Tony was an iconic leader in the US and Canada and grew Gateway from a small regional gaming company to one of the largest gaming companies in Canada.  However, Tony would say himself he didn’t do it – we did it together.”

Santo’s journey with Gateway commenced in 2013 when he took the reins as president and CEO, leaving an indelible mark on the company’s trajectory. By 2017, he had become a pivotal figure on the company’s board. The extent of Santo’s influence was far beyond the boardroom. He was known for his hands-on approach, frequently immersing himself in the operations and connecting with staff at all levels

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Santo’s expertise spanned the hospitality and gaming sectors. His leadership roles in Las Vegas earned him a reputation as an industry luminary. He eventually moved north to Canada, propelling Gateway to its present stature.

Santo announced his retirement plans in December 2019, only for the pandemic to indefinitely postpone his departure. Undeterred, he remained at the helm, guiding the company through unprecedented challenges.

Gateway Overcomes Ransomware Setback, Focuses on Data Security

Gateway, which employs around 7,000 individuals and operates thousands of slot machines and table games, faced a significant setback earlier this year due to a ransomware attack. The incident prompted a temporary closure of its Ontario casinos, raising concerns about data security. Though the company assured no guest information was compromised, the personal details of select employees were possibly accessed. A week after the attack Gateway initiated a phased reopening of its properties. 

With the incident’s aftermath, Gateway undertook a comprehensive restoration of its IT systems with support from cybersecurity experts. The breach, while unsettling, reinforced the company’s commitment to safeguarding its employees’ information. In other news, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment joined forces with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) in an affiliate marketing deal. Gateway customers in Ontario gained easy access to OLG’s iGaming and online sports betting, improving player experiences while maintaining responsible gambling practices.

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The famous horse trainer Bob Baffert was deeply conflicted after one of his horses was euthanized, while another one won the Preakness Stakes, all on the same day. Speaking with the Associated Press, Baffert noted that this day perfectly reflected the twists and turns of the sport.

National Treasure Won the Preakness Stakes

The horse that won the event was none other than National Treasure. Its participation in the event came right after Baffert’s two-year suspension expired. The trainer was originally suspended after the 2021 Kentucky Derby when one of his horses, Medina Spirit, tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug that is not allowed during race days.

National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, effectively trampling Mage’s chance for a Triple Crown. The victory at the $1.65 million race marked a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory for Baffert.

National Treasure’s victory marked the first Preakness race victory for its jockey, John Velazquez. The rider praised the horse for its outstanding performance.

The champion horse paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. The favorite to win the race was the Kentucky Derby champion Mage, which ended up finishing third.

The Passing of Havnameltdown Upset the Trainer

While National Treasure’s win certainly made Baffert proud, the prior death of another horse saddened the trainer.

Baffert’s Havnameltdown, a three-year-old colt, injured his left front leg in an undercard race just a few hours before the Preakness Stakes. As a result of its injury, the young horse had to be euthanized, much to Baffert’s dismay.

The trainer revealed that he felt pained seeing the horse get hurt. Because of that, he couldn’t properly enjoy National Treasure’s victory.

The only silver lining is that Luis Saez, Havnameltdown’s jockey, did not seem badly hurt. While he was immediately rushed to a hospital, the X-rays failed to detect a serious injury.

Baffert couldn’t take Havnameltdown out of his head all day, saying that the incident has really affected them.

Luckily, US horse racing deaths are at their lowest level since they started being tracked back in 2009. However, a string of recent incidents has once again highlighted the dangers of the sport and the need to do more to prevent on-track deaths.

As a result, new medication and doping rules will be introduced next Monday, with horseracing authorities hoping to make a change.

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