Title: President, General Manager
Company: Fairmount Park/FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing
Location: Collinsville, Illinois
Melissa G. Helton, President and General Manager of Fairmuont Part/FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in sports betting administration.
An accomplished business administrator and manager of gambling operations, Ms. Helton has found success since 2020 as the president and general manager of Fairmount Park/FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing. Prior to this post, she was the senior vice president of finance with the Del Lago Resort & Casino from 2018 to 2020 and the director of finance operations for the Indiana Grand Racing & Casino – Centaur Gaming from 2015 to 2018. In her current post, Ms. Helton Meets with staff to prepare them for each day, attends meetings, oversees operations, meets with jockeys, and sprays off horses to cool them down after races.
Boasting varied expertise in finance, business operations, horse racing, casinos, and sportsbook betting, Ms. Helton garnered experience as the senior manager of finance and accounting with Hoosier Park Racing & Casino – Centaur Gaming from 2013 to 2015. From 2012 to 2013, she was a controller with Arizona Biltmore, and from 2011 to 2012 she held the same role with Apache Gold Casino Resort. Ms. Helton began her career as an operations controller for Caesars Indiana from 1998 to 2010 before becoming the controller for Tropicana – Belle of Baton Rouge from 2009 to 2011.
In preparation for her career, Ms. Helton attended Indiana University Southeast, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 2003. Alongside her professional endeavors, she has been a member of the board of directors for the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Chamber of Commerce. She became involved in her field after a friend recruited her, and she attributes her success to her mentors.
Among her career highlights, Ms. Helton is proudest of changing the company culture. The former management never met with staff, and Ms. Helton has implemented an open-door policy with her employees. This has opened communications and revitalized the company. Ms. Helton’s motto is “if you stop and listen to everyone, you’ll learn more than you see.” In the coming years, she hopes to break ground and complete a new casino on Fairmount Park property and lead the company to continued growth and success.
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