Eric Persson built Maverick Gaming from nothing into a company that now owns 31 land-based casinos across three states. He joined Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour to talk about how a serious poker habit turned into a full-blown casino business — and what it took to keep it standing through the pandemic.
The conversation covers the business side of gambling as much as the game itself: risk assessment, brand-building, and the balance between running a company and raising a family. Along the way, Persson shares some of the stranger moments he's witnessed at the poker table.
About Eric Persson
Eric Persson is the founder and CEO of Maverick Gaming, which owns and operates 31 land-based casinos across three states. He built the company alongside his partner, Justin Belcher, growing it from the ground up into one of the larger independent casino operators in the country.
A longtime poker player himself, Persson brings a player's eye for risk and probability into how he runs the business side of gaming. He has spoken openly about steering the company through the pandemic, and about the responsibility that comes with running an industry built on both entertainment and risk.
What Eric Persson and Sean Kelly Talked About
- How Eric Persson and his partner Justin Belcher built Maverick Gaming from nothing
- What it took to keep a 31-casino operation running through the pandemic
- How his experience as a poker player shapes his approach to business risk
- Why he sees poker as entertainment first, with winning as a bonus, not an expectation
- How AI and software are changing the way high-level poker is played
- Why he takes problem gaming seriously even while running a casino business
- The role casinos play as a social outlet, especially for older customers
- How he balances running a casino business with being a present parent
Why This Conversation Matters
Eric Persson offers a rare inside look at the business side of the casino industry from someone who built it as both an operator and a player. His candor about risk, responsibility, and problem gaming makes this more than a poker conversation — it's a look at running a business built on managing risk for a living.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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