The Downstream Development Authority today named Rod Centers Chief Executive Officer of Saracen Casino Resort, effective immediately. The appointment follows the Authority’s termination of Chief Market Officer Carlton Saffa and General Manager Matt Harkness, effective Sept. 28, 2026, by unanimous resolution of the board and with the approval of the Quapaw Nation Business Committee.
Centers brings more than 25 years of operations leadership, including 15 years running casino and hospitality properties across the country. Among his most recent leadership roles, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Seneca Gaming Corporation, the Seneca Nation’s gaming enterprise, where he led operations for Seneca Niagara, Seneca Buffalo Creek, and Seneca Allegany. Under his leadership, all three properties saw stronger team member engagement, a better guest experience, and deeper guest loyalty.
Before Seneca, Centers spent eight years in General Manager and senior operating roles with Pinnacle Entertainment, JACK Entertainment, and Penn National Gaming, leading Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Ameristar Kansas City, and Boomtown Bossier City. Across those properties, team member engagement rose 39% and turnover fell 29%. He began his gaming career at Caesars Entertainment as Vice President of Operations and Continuous Improvement, with responsibility spanning the Central Division and the Flamingo, Harrah’s, Caesars Palace, and Rio in Las Vegas. He has also advised MGM Resorts, Harrah’s Cherokee, and Harrah’s Ak-Chin.
“Rod has run large properties for the biggest operators in the business and for a tribal nation, and he knows what it takes to win in a competitive market,” said Billy Shapp, Chairman of the Downstream Development Authority. “The board is moving forward with new leadership and a new direction, and we chose the person who can take Saracen where it should go. Our commitment to Pine Bluff and Jefferson County is stronger than ever, and it starts with the people who work here and the community that has supported us since day one.”
Saracen Casino Resort is Arkansas’ premier destination for gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. The property offers more than 1,500 slot machines, more than 30 table games, a 14-story, 318-room hotel and spa, a 1,600-seat event center hosting national touring acts, and dining led by the award-winning Red Oak Steakhouse. Saracen is the largest employer in Jefferson County and one of the largest in southeast Arkansas.
“Saracen is one of the finest properties in the South, and I am honored to lead it,” Centers said. “This team helped build Saracen into what it is today, and this is the team that will carry it into the future. My job is to take it further, and we start today: for our guests, for our team members, and for the goal of making Saracen the best gaming and entertainment destination in Arkansas.”
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