It’s been a good run for SugarHouse General Manager Wendy Hamilton.
This past week the casino exec announced she is stepping down from her position this spring and did not indicate what she would do afterward.
The news broke via a press release from the Philadelphia casino. Hamilton made a statement as part of the press release:
“It’s been the ride of a lifetime. From a vacant brownfield to a 260,000-square-foot gaming and entertainment venue, hosting 4 million visitors annually—not to mention hands down, THE BEST team of 1,500 rock star employees—we’ve come a long way, baby.”
SugarHouse thrived under Hamilton’s leadership
The soon-to-be-departed GM was effusive with her praise. She pointed to her team and the property as the driving force behind the casino’s growth.
Since the casino opened in 2010, SugarHouse has grown into a top-five revenue earner among Pennsylvania casinos. Its strength lies in its table-game revenue.
In 2017, the property pulled in $119.8 million from its table games, placing it in third place behind Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and Philly rival Parx.
SugarHouse also has the distinction of being the only PA casino to operate an online casino. The property runs a site in New Jersey via the Golden Nugget’s online gambling license.
SugarHouse contributes to the Nugget’s industry-leading online casino revenue. The Golden Nugget network has a foothold in a fierce market with an excellent user experience, creative bonuses, and a formidable stable of games.
In addition to their revenue success, SugarHouse also successfully finished a property expansion in 2016. Per the Philadelphia Business Journal, the property added:
- More than 150,000-square-feet of space
- 44 table games
- 289 slot machines
- A 28-table poker room
Hamilton’s accomplishments were worthy of the highest praise, SugarHouse CEO Greg Carlin noted in the aforementioned press release:
“Wendy was the driving force behind Philly’s casino for eight years. She built an outstanding team and unmatched workplace culture. Her leadership has been genuine, and her promotion of our brand has been passionate. She’s one in a million, and we wish her all the best.”
Hamilton was an avatar of action
According to the SugarHouse press release, Hamilton was a highly respected businesswoman in the Philly corporate world.
She was a recipient of the 2018 Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia Paradigm Award for her accomplishments at SugarHouse.
The award’s website says the award is the most prestigious in Greater Philadelphia. It honors businesswomen “whose outstanding professional and personal achievements serve as a model for success.”
In an interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal about the Paradigm, Hamilton once again praised the team around her.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive the Paradigm award,” Hamilton said. “This award reflects the hard work and dedication the SugarHouse Team Members put in each and every day.”