By Donovan Livingston
For this month’s Dealer Spotlight, we head to Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, Calif., to talk with Sean Hegstrom, who’s from San Jose but moved to the Sacramento area and has been there most his life.
So how did he get into the casino industry?
“I have been a player for years, and once Thunder Valley got a poker room, I knew that was the spot for me,” he said. “I was fortunate to be selected to attend the Thunder Valley Training School around four years ago. Since completing the class, I have really focused on poker, and it has been a great experience.”
Like most dealers, Hegstrom also is a player, and like most these days, his focus is on no-limit hold’em.
“I play quite a bit of live poker, but I do like to mix in a tournament from time to time,” he said.
Holding true to the poker stereotype and because he’s single with nothing but time on his hands, when he’s not grinding at the tables he’s chasing the white ball on the golf course.
“I live in an area where there are some very nice courses,” he said. “One of my favorites is Whitney Oaks, just down the street from Thunder Valley.”
So what is his favorite thing about being a dealer?
“I’m a fan of the game. I really enjoy the people and watching the different strategies play out. One thing that never changes is the anticipation of turning a card, then seeing how it impacts player decisions.”
Sounds like the words of a true action junkie! Next time you’re at Thunder Valley, hopefully for the upcoming Ante Up World Championship, be sure to stop in and say hello.
