I am Jon R. Horner, a professional croupier with over 21+ years of experience as a professional, licensed, and trained croupier. Born and brought up in Manchester, New Hampshire, also known as the Granite State, sports is a way of life here, from Patriot Maniacs to Bruins Fanatics, to catching a minor league game with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The weekends, in my childhood, were all about sports pools, fantasy games, or perhaps a trip to a pari-mutuel track for a horse race. It’s a way of life that led me to my stint in the gaming industry.
In high school, I trained as a dealer, which allowed me to go on to work at some of the charitable gaming facilities in New Hampshire, which are essentially the gaming halls where we operate our table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker to raise funds for a good cause. I have worked as a dealer in Manchester and Dover, where I managed various games, from a heads-up game of blackjack to a crowded game of poker. There's a certain magic with the way the cards flow, the wheel, and watching someone’s face light up when they get a lucky break.
In 2019, when sports betting became legalized, with DraftKings becoming the official mobile gaming operator, there has been a chance to merge my table skills with the rapidly growing sports gaming industry. For the past couple of years, I have been working with https://bet-nh.com/, a comprehensive resource for a complete sports betting guide in the state of New Hampshire. This is my way of contributing expert opinion on aspects such as real-time bet offerings, responsible gaming practices, the most effective use of gaming platforms such as DraftKings for real-time bets involving NFL games, NHL games, horse racing, etc.
Right now, my time is split between dealing at local gaming facilities and consulting on Web-based content, helping people from all over the state bet safely and legally from wherever they are. It's amazing how mobile technology has enabled sports betting, keeping it very regulated and fun. In my personal life, I am a huge Patriots supporter, enjoying White Mountain hikes in the fall, ice fishing in the winter, and spending quality time with my family grilling by Lake Winnipesaukee. The industry has been a great learning curve, teaching me odds, how to strategize, and keeping my cool, whether at the table game or game day. If you are from NH, looking for some insider input on how to get into the sports betting scene or some live tip tricks, I have inside tales to tell!