Adam Fong did not leave his heart in San Francisco. He grew up there, but moved to Las Vegas in 2003 for his undergrad and graduate degrees at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“I intended on finishing school and moving back, but Las Vegas grew on me, so here I am 16 years later,” says Fong, vice president of the product management team for Casino Solutions, part of the FinTech Division of Everi Holdings, Inc.
Early on, he worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, testing platforms. Being on the regulatory side exposed Fong to operators, manufacturers and senior gaming execs that proved invaluable.
“It gave me an understanding of their perspective and vision,” Fong says. “I also learned the role of regulators. I tried to carry those experiences with me. Co-workers joke that I still have regulator in my DNA. I wear that as a badge of honor, because compliance is such an important part of our industry.”
During his regulator days, he met the management team of the former Multimedia Games, which merged with Global Cash Access to form Everi.
“I felt like I might be able to help with the integration,” he says. Global Cash Access morphed into FinTech, the side Fong stayed with after the merger. In his current position, Fong oversees many FinTech solutions such as anti-money laundering platforms, credit intelligence products, cash handling and jackpot management.
“Our mission is to enhance the operator’s experience by delivering solutions that increase efficiency, make better decisions, and manage regulatory obligations,” says Fong, who likes weekend trips to explore new places and experiences with his wife, Agnes.
In his career, Fong has dealt with challenges, including learning different facets of the gaming industry as his job title changed.
“I went from being a regulator testing for a single jurisdiction to managing regulatory testing for hundreds of jurisdictions. It took a good amount of time to learn how gaming technology was regulated outside of Nevada and get exposure to technology not found in the state.”
When Fong went from independent testing company BMM to the supplier side with Global Cash Access, he studied new areas of the industry. He relied on mentors in his corner for help. Mentors like Travis Foley, at BMM, who gave him his first start in gaming working for NGCB.
“He took me under his wing, gave me a ton of opportunities and always challenged me to be better,” Fong says.
At Global Cash Access, Tim Richards exposed Fong to the fundamentals of product management and what it takes to get a product over the finish line. “Lastly, Darren Simmons helped me understand the FinTech side of the business and empowered me with tremendous responsibility to make an impact.”
Fong says the future is limitless. “I’ve really enjoyed the ride so far and intend to continue my career in gaming,” says the Game of Thrones fan. “There is so much to learn within this industry, and that excites me.”
As the industry evolves, Fong expects to help bring further innovation and compelling experiences to players and operators alike.
He says gaming welcomes newcomers.
“The industry can benefit from fresh perspectives,” says Fong.
But come with an open mind, he advises. “Make friends with a few industry veterans and spend as much time as you can with them. Not only will they have a lot of wisdom to impart, but they have some great stories, too!”
