RePlay Magazine Podcast - Interview with Bob Geschine
RePlay Magazine Podcast - Interview with Bob Geschine
The RePlay Podcast returns with an interesting and insightful chat with Bob Geschine, president and CEO of H. Betti Industries. Bob, a recent recipient of Amusement Industry Hall of Fame honors from AAMA, has made many contributions to the company we know as “Betson.” Bob came aboard as controller, taking a pay cut to do so, and has been one of the guiding hands shaping its growth and future ever since. Mentored by the company’s second generation’s Bert Betti, Bob worked alongside Bert’s son Peter, and today has the pleasure of working with and mentoring the fourth generation of Betti family leaders. People in the industry are well aware of Bob’s business and financial acumen, his ability to see industry needs and how Betson can best position itself for success, and where to find growth opportunities. What readers might not know is he’s got a deep love of the Jersey Shore, a passion for sailing, and he’s part owner of a speakeasy-style bar and restaurant called the Roosevelt. See what else our host Randy Chilton uncovers in episode three of The RePlay Podcast!
Kineticist’s take
Betson Enterprises president reflects on 50-year career, family business perpetuation, and industry evolution.
Synopsis
Bob Geschke, president of Betson Enterprises for 25 years (50 years total tenure), discusses the company's evolution from a regional distributor to a major amusement industry player across four generations. He reflects on pivotal decisions including disrupting territorial distribution models, entering manufacturing after Midway's closure, and launching Betson Technical University to support technicians. Geschke emphasizes company culture, family succession planning, and optimism about the FEC and location-based entertainment market.
Highlights
- Betson Enterprises is 91 years old and in its fourth generation of family leadership
- Bob Geschke has been president of Betson for 25 years (since late 1990s) with 50 years total tenure
- In 1999, Midway closed and Geschke purchased 10,000 program chips and established a royalty agreement to manufacture games
- Betson Enterprises challenged and eliminated exclusive territorial distribution in the amusement industry
- Betson Technical University has graduated 'thousands of technicians' in the past 7-8 years
- Betson Enterprises represents Light and Wonder (Scientific Games) exclusively in four states with video lottery terminals (Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska)
- Less than 1% of businesses survive and thrive into the fourth generation
- Early 2010s skill-based gaming trend was a regretted era for the industry that risked turning FECs into casinos
Entities
- Betson Enterprises· company
- Light and Wonder (formerly Scientific Games)· company
- Midway Games· company
- American Amusement Machine Association (AMA)· organization
- Betson Technical University· organization
- RePlay Magazine· organization
- Bert Betty· person
- Bob Geschke· person
- Eugene Jarvis· person
- George Smith· person
- Kristen (Geschke)· person
- Peter Betty· person
- Randy Chilton· person
- Robert Jr. (Geschke)· person