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BY Abu Mubarik, 6:43pm January 30, 2025,

How Emmanuel Bailey defied the odds to become the first Black lottery operator

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by Abu Mubarik, 6:43pm January 30, 2025,
Emmanuel Bailey. Photo credit: Black Enterprise

Emmanuel Bailey is behind Vital Services Contractors (VSC), an operations management and services firm specializing in Gaming Operations, Information Technology, and Business Services serving the government sector.

His firm has management experience in state lottery contracts, including providing direct oversight and management of lottery agents, retail systems, gaming equipment deployment and maintenance, and oversight of the central gaming system performance, as per Black Enterprise.

Prior to starting VSC, Bailey worked in various lotteries throughout America to acquire institutional knowledge on the workings of the industry. Despite the competitive nature of the lottery industry, he grew his business through experienced staff while expanding VSC’s strengths.

Through these efforts, he was able to start working with the big names in the field and eventually became the only Black business owner operating a state lottery in the entire U.S., in his home “state” of Washington, DC, Black Enterprise wrote.

Today, VSC is a multi-million dollar company with over one hundred employees. The growth of his firm has also earned him several recognitions and awards. He was recognized with the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries’ (NASPL) Powers Award in 2020, which he won based on a nomination from the DC lottery itself.

What is more, he has also expanded his business, opening a VSC office in Maryland and seeking to expand his geographic reach, he said.

Bailey’s journey to success was not smooth sailing. He grew up with a single mother and moved from rental unit to rental unit in the Washington metropolitan area for most of his childhood.

Upon his return from college to his hometown, he observed the rise in crime rate and incidents of poverty as well as the drug epidemic. Nonetheless, he did not allow this to define him and pursued the path towards excellence.

It was the nature of his background that made Bailey realize the need to earn a college degree to be successful. This would eventually make him the first member of his family to attend and graduate college.

He enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University, earning a BA in Business Management. He subsequently went on to earn an Executive MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Beginning his career at IBM, Bailey rose through the ranks, moving from a branch officer at Citizens Bank of Maryland to becoming a vice president at Fannie Mae. These roles provided him with the skills needed to lead.

Passionate about improving the lives of children, Bailey began serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Urban League. He is a past Executive Board Committee Member of the Greater Washington Boys & Girls Club of America, and also the past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation founded by NBA star Kevin Durant.

Per his website, the companies that Bailey has founded, acquired, and or partnered with since 2007 have generated nearly $100 million in combined Gross Revenues, providing contracting services in the private and public sector.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: January 30, 2025

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