Most companies today have a presence on the World Wide Web. Casinos and casino hotels are no exception. Web sites are an important part of the way casinos and casino hotels promote and market themselves and their services.
The Webmaster is the person in charge of creating, putting together, and maintaining the Web site. The casino or casino hotel Webmaster has many responsibilities. Depending on the situation, he or she may work alone or may assign tasks to assistants, content producers, copywriters, graphic artists, etc. Generally, this is the case for Webmasters responsible for large casino Web sites. One of the first things the Webmaster must do is find a host for the site. In order for a casino or casino hotel (or any company) to have a Web site, it must rent a space or location on the Web. This may be done by obtaining a host. The casino or casino hotel pays the host for the right to place its site online on the host’s space. In some instances, the casino and the host are one and the same.
In order for individuals to be able to locate the casino or casino hotel’s Web site, it must have a Web address. This is called the domain name. If the casino is a new one, the Webmaster may need to work with the casino management to develop a Web address that people can remember and that is available. Most often the Web address is the casino or casino hotel’s name.
The Casino Webmaster’s duties depend to a great extent on the size and structure of the casino and casino hotel, and the importance it puts on the Web site. Duties also will be dependent on whether the Web site has already been set up or whether it needs to be revamped. The Webmaster is expected to determine the direction the casino or casino hotel wants the Web site to take and the goals of the Web site. Does the management just want to maintain a Web presence? Do they want people to be able to make reservations and book rooms online? Do they want to sell branded merchandise? Do they want people to be able to join a loyalty program online? Will there be separate sites for the casino and the casino hotel? Does the casino want to sell advertising to other companies to increase revenue? Once the Webmaster understands what the casino management wants, he or she can get to work.
The Webmaster may be responsible for developing and creating the casino’s Web site on the World Wide Web. He or she must design the site so that it is exciting and easy to navigate and use. The Webmaster must be sure that each Web page on the site opens easily and quickly. If they do not, people will often leave the site and surf to another location. The Webmaster will develop the site, adding photos of the casino, the hotel, animations or other graphics, and possibly sound. In creating the site, the Webmaster must manipulate images to the proper size and format. If this is not done correctly, an image may either be too large, slowing down the loading of a Web page, or too small, making it difficult to see clearly. In many cases, the casino may already have a site, but needs or wants to have it revamped and redesigned.
The Casino website Webmaster develops the site’s search function so that people can search for something specific on the site quickly and easily. He or she may program pop-up windows, features, reservation systems, shopping carts, secure payment systems, the ability to see videos of action at the casino, and a variety of other functions. The Webmaster may also build in technology so the casino management can find out how long people stay on a specific Web page, which part of the site is most popular, and how many hits the site gets. Developing and designing the Web site is just one part of the job of the Webmaster. He or she is additionally responsible for the continued management and maintenance of the site. In order to keep a Web site fresh and timely, the Webmaster may change the homepage and update other parts of the site frequently sometimes the site content changes daily. This might occur, for example, as hotel room rates change, specials are added, entertainment changes, or individuals win large jackpots. The Webmaster must make changes and remove out-of-date content.
Web sites are created in special languages so they can be displayed on the Internet. Text, for example, is coded in a language called HTML, or hypertext markup language. Other languages may be used as well. The Webmaster must know how to format the special languages. Part of the job of the Webmaster is to monitor the site on a continuing basis. Every time new content or a link is added, the person or one of his or her assistants must be sure everything on the site is working and all links are accurate. The casino and casino hotel Webmaster is expected to make sure that the site is user-friendly. When there are problems with the site, the person is responsible for handling them. This may include responding to inquiries from browsers having problems with the site. Additional responsibilities of the casino and casino hotel Webmaster might include:
Earnings for casino and casino hotel Webmasters can vary greatly ranging from approximately USD 33,000 to USD 86,000. Factors affecting earnings include the size, prestige, and location of the casino or casino hotel as well as the size and importance to the casino of its Web site. Other factors affecting earnings include the responsibilities, professional reputation, and experience of the individual. Webmasters who are responsible for handling more than one Web site, such as those in charge of a corporate family of casino and casino hotel Web sites, will generally earn more than their counterparts who are only responsible for one site.
Employment prospects are good for casino and casino hotel Webmasters. While some casinos and casino hotels have just one Webmaster, larger casinos and casino hotels often have more than one person in this position. Individuals may find employment in large or small casinos and casino hotels, bingo halls, poker rooms, and racinos. As a result of the nature of the job, some employers may allow their Webmasters to telecommute all or part of the time. Individuals may also find part-time or consulting jobs.
Advancement prospects for casino and casino hotel Webmasters are fair and getting better every day. Talented individuals may advance to jobs handling the Web sites for larger and more prestigious casinos and casino hotels. This will result in increased responsibilities and earnings. Others may advance their careers by becoming senior Webmasters for large gaming companies with more than one casino resulting in the responsibility of a number of sites. Some Webmasters decide to strike out on their own and open consulting firms.
Education and training requirements vary for casino and casino hotel Webmasters. Some jobs may require a formal education such as a bachelor’s degree with a major in computer science or information processing. Others may not have formal educational requirements as long as individuals can demonstrate competence. Some Webmasters are self-taught. Some have taken classes. Others have college backgrounds or degrees in computers, programming, languages, graphics, Web authoring, and the Internet. However it is learned, Webmasters must know HTML. It is also necessary to know other programming languages, such as ColdFusion, Perl, and Active Server Pages. Knowing how to integrate databases is a plus. It is essential that Webmasters update their skills by self-study and/or classes, seminars, and workshops to keep up with changes in technology.
Voluntary Certified Web Professional (CWP) certification is available from various industry organizations. This certification demonstrates that individuals have attained professional status in their field.
Experience requirements depend, to a great extent, on the size and prestige of the specific casino or casino hotel. Those seeking jobs with large, prestigious casinos and casino hotels will generally be required to have a minimum of two to three years experience as either a Webmaster or in Web application development or administration. Larger, more prestigious casinos and casino hotels will also want their Webmasters to have a proven track record and experience. Creativity is essential to the success of Webmasters. Individuals should also have excellent written and verbal communication skills. A total knowledge and understanding of computer technology is vital. An understanding of the gaming industry is also useful.
Individuals interested in learning more about careers in the field may obtain additional information by contacting the Internet Professional Association (IProA), the International Webmasters Association (IWA), and the World Organization of Webmasters (WOW).
1. jobs may be located in the classified section of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under headings such as “Webmaster,” “Casinos,” “Web Careers,” and so on. In some situations, casinos and casino hotels may also take out box ads in the classified section advertising many different jobs.
2. Many casinos and casino hotels have job openings posted on their Web sites. Look for sections such as “Employment,” “Jobs,” or “Work for Us.”
3. Don’t forget other online searches. Check out traditional job sites such as Monster.com and Yahoo Hotjobs. You might also want to check out some of the career sites dedicated to the gaming industry, or even Internet jobs.
4. Get experience by volunteering to put Web sites together for not-for-profit organizations or civic groups. Don’t forget to add your name as the creator and Webmaster.
5. If you are still in school, look for internships. These will give you on-the-job training, experience, and the opportunity to make important contacts. Contact casino human resource departments to see what they offer.
6. Send your résumé and a short cover letter to the human resource department of casinos and casino hotels for which you might be interested in working. You never know when an opening might exist.
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