WORK’S A GAME. PLAY TO WIN. Winter ’12 TEAM MEMBER NEWS As 2012 draws to a close, we are thrilled that Page 2 Peninsula Gaming has officially become a part of Boyd Gaming! With the completion of this Peninsula acquisition, we have added five properties, including our first in the states of Iowa and Kansas. • In Iowa, we are acquiring two Diamond Jo-branded casinos; Gaming • In Louisiana, we have added Evangeline Downs and Amelia Page 2 Belle, giving us a total of five properties in the state; • Near Wichita, Kansas Star Casino opened its permanent gaming floor this month. Beyond “Boyd Gaming and Peninsula share very similar cultures and business This is an exciting time for our Company. We now operate in eight states, our models, as both companies are known for delivering great customer creating more opportunities to market our properties and to introduce Doors service and giving back to our communities. We welcome our new the Boyd Style brand of service to new guests and new markets. Page 5 colleagues to Boyd Gaming, and together we will build upon our We are one of the gaming industry’s largest companies, with 22 success in the years to come,” said Keith Smith, President and Chief TEAM properties across the country. And that means there are now more Executive Officer. opportunities than ever for you to advance your career at Boyd Gaming! MEMBER Please join us in offering a warm welcome to our new team members from OF THE As our Company continues to grow, we will not forget where we came Peninsula Gaming. We’re thrilled that you’ve joined the family! from. We were founded nearly 40 years ago by Sam and Bill Boyd, and YEAR Learn more about our five new properties by turning to the special we are proud that their values still guide us. We believe in treating insert included in this issue of Boyd Buzz. Page 5 people right -- our customers, team members, and communities. That is a philosophy shared by our new colleagues, and a big reason we think Peninsula Gaming is such a great fit for our Company The Spirit of the Gulf Goes to the Olympics Chris Poplin, the IP’s award-winning executive chef, has been cooking professionally “I like to take something easily recognizable and make it into something you aren’t COMPANY NEWS since he was 16. So it’s safe to say that he’s prepared more than his share of dinners expecting,” explained Poplin. Page 2 and luncheons for VIPs and dignitaries during his long and successful career. When he arrived, Poplin was immediately caught up in all the pageantry and Eldorado But nothing like this. spectacle that only the Olympics could create. at 50 Poplin was about to put on his apron, fire up the burners and cook for more than “It was the first time I’d been to Europe and the history mixed with all of the modern 700 very special VIPs on a stage that simply couldn’t get any bigger: the 2012 architecture was amazing,” Poplin said. London Olympic Games. His guests: Team USA. The venue: the Royal College of He even was lucky enough to take in a couple of medal-round swimming events. Arts, which briefly became “USA House,” the official “home away from home” for “I had the opportunity to watch our swimmers win medals. The singing of our America’s athletes, their families, coaches, visitors and support staff. Page 3 national anthem in England is something I will never forget,” remarked Poplin. It all started a couple of months before the London Olympics, when Poplin was Another highlight came when Poplin was interviewed by NBC alongside Olympic selected by BP as one of the chefs invited to participate in the “Spirit of the Gulf,” legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee. a culinary event sponsored by BP in conjunction with the U. S. Olympic Committee. The event was designed to showcase the region’s unique Gulf Coast seafood cuisine. His favorite memory of this unforgettable Olympic experience? Poplin joined seven other top chefs from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and “Without a doubt the highlight of the event was cooking for the U.S. athletes. I was Florida who prepared a varied menu of fresh seafood dishes celebrating the cuisine so proud and thankful just to be there; yet they were the ones thanking us for Up Close of the Gulf Coast. coming all the way from the U.S. and cooking for them. I couldn’t believe how much Page 6 we were appreciated,” said Poplin. After being selected for the honor of representing the Gulf Coast and the IP at the Olympics, Poplin and his team went into high gear to prepare for the event. For his dish, Poplin prepared Southern-style BBQ shrimp served over goat cheese and smoked sausage grits. “It was very important to use only the freshest Gulf Coast seafood, especially our shrimp,” Poplin explained. Page 6 The Green Corner You can enroll to receive your W-2 online and early. Visit https://paperlesspay.talx.com/boydgaming. OLYMPIAN JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE PICTURED CHEF POPLIN SERVES A DISH AT THE USA HOUSE The deadline to enroll is January 13! WITH CHEF POPLIN As this year draws to a close, we are reminded of how very fortunate we are to have our friends and family gathered around celebrating this festive season. Judy and I are grateful to count you as our oliday extended family and wish you all the happiest of holidays. H We know that great things are in store for us in 2013 thanks to the superior customer service you provide—both internal and external. essage We appreciate all that you do and wish you an abundance of health M and happiness. Happy New Year! “The Casino That Started it All” Celebrates 50 Years of Historic Success On July 1, 1962 the Eldorado Casino welcomed its first guests with friendly Twenty-year Mariana’s Cantina Host Shirley Smith has seen customers grow hospitality, nonstop gaming action, a lively social scene and delicious up right before her eyes. “Just the other day a lady came in and said: ‘I dining served with a smile. A lot has changed since then, but one thing remember you from when I was this big. I’m so glad to see you’re still here.’” that hasn’t is the Eldorado’s 50-year recipe for success: Treat everyone as “Many of our servers recall first meeting guests when they were in their your neighbor, put the customer first and offer big value at a small price. late teens and early twenties and now these same customers have children “The Eldorado was very important to me because it was my first investment of their own,” said Director of Operations Guido Metzger, a 25-year Boyd in the gaming business,” Bill Boyd said during a recent interview with the Gaming veteran. “We often have three or four generations of people that Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Without it, we probably wouldn’t have gone on you’ve just known for years and years, and that makes it special.” and invested in Boyd Gaming.” Smith also appreciates the cooperative team spirit that makes working at Three other long-time team members recently shared their memories of the Eldorado a true “family affair.” working at the Eldorado. Twenty-five year veteran Bartender Patty Elmer “A couple weeks ago, I was stuck at the door trying to seat people, take a started at the Eldorado in 1987; Heather Bell, a Customer Service Attendant list and do all the checks. So Patty came over and started seating people began her Eldorado career in 1993; and Shirley Smith has been working as for me without thinking twice about it,” Smith said. a Host at Mariana’s Cantina since 1992. “That’s a great example of the teamwork and the harmony that team “I enjoy all the team members that I work with. They are like family,” Patty members share together which is just second nature,” added Metzger. Elmer said. “We all go out of our way to help each other. I think the people I work with are awesome.” On the occasion of the casino’s 50th anniversary on July 1, Bill Boyd joined team members and customers for a cake and champagne celebration toasting She adds that customers are also much like family to her. “Our customers the Eldorado’s half-century come in and they’re happy and bubbly and saying ‘hi’ and I enjoy having a of achievement and history. conversation with them,” she said. Heather Bell summed it Heather Bell laughs when remembering a humorous encounter with a up best when she said: “It’s certain key executive. “It was New Year’s Eve,” she said, “I actually ran into been a great ride.” And we Bill Boyd with my change cart and didn’t know it was him.” Mr. Boyd, she couldn’t agree more! added, didn’t seem to mind the encounter one bit. “He just smiled and said: ‘Oh, it’s okay,’ and walked off.” BeyondBeyond ourour DoorsDoors Gold Coast Audio/Visual Technician and 16-year “I’ll never forget the day we took the boys to Bennett explains. “The change from the first “Our three kids are grown and we wanted to Boyd Gaming team member Dave Bennett has visit their sister, who was being cared for day they arrived to now is a 180-degree about give something back to our community right a houseful of kids these days.