Going For Gold GOLDEN NUGGET’S RICHARD WILK KNOWS HOW TO PLEASE HIS VIPS 944 MAGAZINE

Hook, line and sinker — Vegas is famous for reeling in the tourists, getting them addicted to the action and pulling them back like an AA member running across a six-lane highway in search of a pub. This enticing city has undoubtedly perfected the art of entertaining patrons, many of whom travel from all over the globe to party under the Strip’s neon lights. Aside from all the fun that you might be having, do you ever wonder how the VIPs party in Vegas? With all the parties and backstage access, it’s hard to imagine a star getting professional help on having a good time. But when in Vegas, they turn to Richard Wilk.

If scientists were to take a sample of Wilk’s DNA and magnify it a million times over, they might find his family has slipped in an extra chromosome — an animal instinct in finding a good time. Wilk says, “I never changed my character or who I am. I only had to adapt to the atmosphere of which casino I was working at. I take care of the gamblers, athletes and celebrities’ needs in Vegas. They trust me to do the tasks right and give them the best customer service that they can't find with anyone else.” In the cut-throat business, understanding your clientele and their needs can place you at the top of your game. Wilk has managed to maintain a position at the top of the hierarchy. Working as the director of player development at the Golden Nugget, he has always held the key to the kingdom he created, and it comes from the early experience of dealing with high-profile personnel.

What makes someone fit to assist the rich and famous? It takes what many don’t have in today’s busy and fast-paced society — trust and a genuine personality. Wilk has both and puts them to use for the benefit of everyone, including himself. “Celebrities get mobbed all the time, and the last thing they want from me is to act the same way as their fans,” says Wilk. “In Vegas I’m here to help them. I build strong relationships of trust and keep what happens in Vegas between us.” As a younger version of the ball-busting person he is today, at 18 he was working the door at some of Toronto’s biggest nightclubs. Fast-forward a little and we see him working as a stuntman for film and TV productions where he received his first exposure to numerous celebrities. He also attained some training from U.S. Special Forces in counter intelligence and terrorism. He claims that his down-to-earth personality and ability to not become a gaga butt-kissing machine gained the coveted trust of many celebrities; as famous as they might be, they appreciate that Wilk treats them like “normal” people. Like anyone else, he started from the ground and rose in a burst of glory — with the usual, not-so-glorious, and average jobs placed in between. His days of bodyguarding and Atlantic City hosting are far behind him, and right now, he is only looking toward his ever-present and well-lit future in Vegas — no pun intended.

Most people aren’t looking for Wilk. He is looking for them because, after all, isn’t that what makes him one of the best in his occupation? Currently he finds himself assisting the VIPs and high rollers that pass through the Golden Nugget. You might have even seen this connoisseur of customer service putting his top-notch trade to work on the Mark Brunett reality show, The Casino, which takes place in Wilk’s backyard, the Golden Nugget. The casino emanates the vintage and old-school appeal that originally shaped Sin City, and Wilk takes advantage of this by transporting hospitality back to the days of Sinatra and Martin. It seems ironic that the casino would be Vegas’ newest vibe, and yet it takes us spiraling backwards into the period of great gambling, fast women and that Old World treatment. Maybe Wilk was meant to be a sixth member of the Rat Pack, hanging with Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank, but whatever era he remains in, you can always be sure that his skills fall nothing short of amazing.

On the outside, Wilk is just your average 37-year-old with great ambition, but on the inside he holds great talent. Operating in the highstakes, kill-or-be-killed Vegas atmosphere hasn’t even produced a bead of sweat on Wilks’ brow. It takes commitment to meet the demands of so many clients in a given week, but he meets this challenge with determination. Take the high rollers jetting in from around the world, the starlet who has wrapped shooting, the partiers who are looking for more fun when the clubs have died down, throw in Wilk and the results are unbeatable — flawless service and dedication. Working relationships become friendships, and after a grueling 16-hour work day becomes his the best part of the job. For those who know Wilk, it seems understandable that Las Vegas keeps drawing them in, and even for those who don’t, the appeal is undeniable. If Vegas is a playground for the rich and famous, then Wilk just might be the guy who pushes the swing.

For some of Wilk’s crazier stories, catch a copy of his book, Connected ... Vegas-Style, available at www.richardwilk.com.

<< Back