Stefanelli joins Hard Rock from BetMGM where he Director of Operations / Director of Poker overseeing the operator’s online casino and poker product, customer service and risk and payments.
“We are thrilled to welcome a 30-year industry professional like Ray back to the Hard Rock family,” said Joe Lupo, property president. “I am confident that Ray will continue to elevate our online gaming experience here in New Jersey, while playing an integral role in the expansion and development of the existing and future customer product with the Hard Rock Digital team.”
Before that, Stefanelli spent approximately five years as Executive Director of Online Gaming Poker and Casino Product at Borgata and one year as Seminole Gaming’s Director of Poker Marketing.
Stefanelli’s entrance to online gaming also came at Borgata, where from 2006 to 2013 he served as Director of Poker Marketing.
A New Jersey native, Stefanelli graduated from Lynchburg College in Virginia.
Stefanelli will look to make Hard Rock a more competitive player in the New Jersey iGaming market.
Hard Rock generated $5.8m in June online gaming revenue, which was second-fewest among the seven Atlantic City casinos offering iGaming.
Through the first six months of 2021, Hard Rock has taken in $33.2m in iGaming win. Market leader Borgata, by comparison, has won $191m over that span.
