WYNN COMING TO MARYLAND?

Lobbyists for casino innovator Steve Wynn have reportedly floated plans to bring three full-on casinos, which would cost at least $500 million each, to Maryland. From the http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27879-2003Sep4.html:

Lobbyists for Las Vegas gambling king Steve Wynn are negotiating with Maryland's racetrack owners to try to forge consensus on a plan that would bring both slot machines and full-fledged casinos to the state.
Although participants said they are a long way from reaching an agreement, the talks represent the first time that the state's gambling interests have tried to find common ground in their campaign to persuade the General Assembly to legalize slot machines, casinos or both.

Edward O. Wayson, an Annapolis lobbyist who represents both Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas and a company that is bidding to own Rosecroft Raceway in Oxon Hill, has drafted proposed legislation that would make Maryland one of the leading gambling states in the nation, behind only Nevada and New Jersey.

His plan, a draft of which was reviewed by The Washington Post, would allow for three full-fledged casino resorts in the state: in Prince George's County, in Baltimore and at an undetermined site. The proposal also would allow for thousands of slot machines at four horse racing tracks and contains provisions for expanded gambling at off-track betting parlors and other sites.
FULL STORY

The casino proposal faces an uphill battle, but all casino expansion plans start as longshots.
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MIDDLE-AGED GAMBLERS BET MORE

According to the 2002 Las Vegas Visitor Profile, conducted for the Convention and Visitors Authority, casino visitors in their 40s and 50s have more money budgeted to gamble. From the LVRJ:

Middle-aged tourists' have bigger gambling budgets than do senior citizens and visitors in their 20s and 30s, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority statistics show.

Among visitors who admit gambling during their Las Vegas trips, gamblers in their 20s said they had per-trip gambling budgets of $377, the smallest number of any age group measured.

Each successively older age group admits to gambling more than younger groups admit, until a slight drop-off from the $608 reported by those 50 to 59 to the $605 admitted by the 60 to 64 age group.

Those in the 65 and older category report a big drop-off, to $472.
FULL STORY

This is a real shocker. Who would have thought that men and women who, demographically speaking, are secure in their jobs and have good handles on their finances would have had more money to gamble?
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CASINO OF AMERICA?

How about this for a lucrative casino site: being the only game in town in a site with 35 to 42 million annual visitors. Well, apparently Caesars is interested in opening a casino at the Mall of America. From the LV Sun:

The owner of Caesars Palace is exploring the against-the-odds possibility of building a Las Vegas-style casino resort at the Mall of America.

"We have had some discussions with a number of people in Minnesota about the development of a Caesars-branded casino at the Mall of America," said Robert Stewart, a spokesman for Caesars owner Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas.

Stewart said Caesars' officials have discussed the idea with the mall's owner, Simon Property Group, owner of the Forum Shops at Caesars mall in Las Vegas. Simon Property declined comment.

The proposal is a long shot. It would require approval from a governor and Legislature that have resisted expansion of gambling in Minnesota.
FULL STORY

This seems to be even more of a longshot than the Maryland casino, but you never know. I went to this big mall in Edmonton--it was either bigger than or nearly as big as the Mall of America--and they had a small casino. It didn't seem to be making tons of money, but who knows?
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That's all for today. Have a great weekend.

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posted by Dave at 4:49 PM

JAY SARNO REDUX

In its new marketing campaign, "Live Famously," Caesars Palace is dropping togas and chariots for a more contemporary look. From the LVRJ:

Park Place Entertainment Corp. Wednesday announced it is turning thumbs down on the togas, chariots and laurel wreaths used in past marketing campaigns for its Roman-themed Caesars Palace resort.

Instead, it has given a thumbs up to a new multimillion-dollar ad campaign that will feature scenes such as a woman feeding martini olives from her drink to a young man, three women tossing down drinks on a girls' night out and a man being ogled by beautiful blondes.
FULL STORY

A fellow UNLV professor questioned the move, probably just for the sake of casting doubt. I'd be curious to know if there is any empirical research proving that prospective tourists are more intrigued by faux Roman trappings than depictions of things that might actually happen to you. I know from personal experience that every time I go to the Palace, I get ogled by beautiful blondes, even though I've never had any feed me martini olives (I'm more of a protein shake and bottled water guy, anyway).

I say, this is an astute marketing campaign, but if, as a UNLV faculty member, I have to play devil's advocate, here goes: The new campaign should be, "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?" It would take in the grittier side of the Roman Empire as seen in the popular Russell Crowe movie Gladiator.
Here's a sample television ad : A pit boss is huddled with a few floorpeople beside a craps table, where the house is taking a beating. "When I give the signal," he heroically says, "UNLEASH COMPS!" As he walks towards the table, schmoozing with players, he gives the signal, and the floorpeople barrage the players with comps for Celine Dion and 808, breaking up the on-going rout.
You could dress security as the Praetorian Guard and have them scheme against the management and, of course, have to-the-death gladiating in the Colosseum when Celine's show is dark.

If you're trying to go for an overstated Roman theme, even if you are striving for Gladiator, you inevitably end up with History of the World Part One. It's so hard to take any of this seriously that it degenerates into parody. Visitors to Las Vegas are becoming more and more sophisticated, and luring them to town with promises of chariots and laurel wreaths is not going to play anymore. I say it's smart of Caesars to recognize that and instead shoot for Swingers.

What does this have to do with Jay Sarno? He originally built Caesars Palace in 1966, and is the real father of the themed resort, also opening Circus Circus as an adult-oriented playground--kind of like Zumanity without the drag queen. Did this mean that he always wanted the kind of cartoonish overstatement that places like Excalibur relish in? I don't think so. Instead, he would probably approve of ideas like "Live Famously" that put the total casino entertainment experience in the context of the themed casino. This is the direction that Steve Wynn has taken with his themed resorts in the past, and one that the Strip seems to be embracing. MGM Grand, for example, went from its original Wizard of Oz theme to "the city of entertainment" to the forthcoming "Maxiumum Vegas." Mr. Wynn's new property will probably change the direction of the industry again, mostly because it will focus on the guest's entire visit and not just trot out amenities. Jay Sarno would be proud.
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SPEAKING OF BREAD AND CIRCUSES...

Pop quiz, hotshot. What is the fourth-largest revenue generator for the state of New Jersey? The lottery, which gave the state $$764 million in fiscal 2003. While traditional lottery games are popular, scratchers are gaining in popularity:

The state hit the jackpot in fiscal 2003 with scratch-off tickets, which accounted for more than $900 million in sales - up 16.5 percent from fiscal 2002.

Overall lottery revenue was up less than 1 percent over the previous year, according to figures released yesterday.

Games such as Slingo, Blackjack and Crossword spurred record sales in the typically lower-stakes scratch-off category.

"People like the entertainment factor of our games," lottery director Virginia Bauer said. "Obviously, people want to win. That's the main purpose of buying a ticket."

The lottery also has been trying higher-stakes instant games, such as All the Marbles, which has four $150,000 winners, and Super Diamond Progressive Slots, with three winning tickets worth $163,760 apiece.

Those sell for $5 and $10, respectively, a considerable premium over the normal $1 to $3 for games with top prizes between $5,000 and $50,000.
FULL STORY

In a related story, the Texas Council's on Problem Gambling has shut down, because most of the calls it got were from people who wanted the winning numbers! From the LV Sun:

The phone number has been on the back of every Texas lottery ticket printed since 1992. It's the number to a hotline for problem gamblers needing a referral to counseling services such as Gamblers Anonymous.

Yet an average of three out of five telephone calls placed to the Texas Council on Problem Gambling in 2002 were from people asking for the winning lottery numbers, according to state officials.

That's a major reason the state's only 24-hour hotline for problem gamblers ran out of money Monday. Its funding, an annual $375,000 check from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, will now be earmarked for the state's permanent education fund.

"When we found out that the overwhelming majority of calls going to the hotline were to find out the results of the lottery, that seemed to be an easy decision to make," said state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-Burleson, who helped write legislation to allow the termination of the hotline. "I'm sure there are going to be people who do not receive service, but we were trying to define those who needed help the most. And we felt this service was not getting the biggest bang for the buck."

In 2002, 19,557 calls came from adults who wanted information about problem gambling. Of the hotline's 49,606 total calls, 1,620 received crisis counseling or a referral, said Kirk Cole, media relations director for the alcohol and drug abuse commission.
FULL STORY

This would be funny, but people who need treatment now have one less friendly voice. Hey, two-thirds of the people who find out what I do for a living ask me for winning stratgeies, so it doesn't surprise me that most people calling want to know whether they won.
Still, this seems like a marketing problem. Why not have a 1-800 number for winning numbers printed ABOVE the number for problem gamblers to call? That would take the burden off of the hotline and provide what is apparently a much-needed service.
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That's all for today. Remember, problem gambling hotlines are for people who actually need help with their gambling problems, so don't clog them by trying to learn if you hit the Pick-6. And don't call me for the winning numbers, either.
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posted by Dave at 9:14 AM

RADIO KILLED THE INTERNET STAR

Not exactly, but I couldn't think of anything really witty. I did a brief call-in spot on Larry Grossman's "You Can Bet On It!" You can check out the show at the archive page. It's the Weds, 9/03 show. It was a great interview, including the part where one of my fellow faculty members started complaining in the hallway outside my office and I had to stop the interview to ask her to shut my door. A true radio classic.
posted by Dave at 4:37 PM

A NEW SLOGAN FOR AC

A good catchphrase is important. It gives a product, service, or person a quick soundbite of a personality. Atlantic City's imagemakers have decided they need a new catchphrase. Here is the story from the Star Ledger:

It seems the current motto -- "America's Favorite Playground" -- has died a slow death.

A new slogan has been in the works for several months now, with a team of consultants conducting surveys and focus groups -- a $110,000 effort. They've narrowed down concepts and are testing contenders. The final catchphrase and logo will be unveiled in October.

Why now? Tourism officials decided that with Atlantic City's casino industry undergoing a $1.8 billion building boom, it was time for them to up their publicity efforts to boost its visitors.

It's needed. The number of visitors has held steady at about 33 million annually in recent years. And some analysts are concerned that the $1 billion Borgata, the first new casino since 1990, may not do enough to lure more visitors and grow the gambling market at a time when the resort is facing intense competition from surrounding states.

Enter the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority. It was created, in part, to promote the casino industry, but it traditionally has taken a more regional approach, highlighting activities such as wildlife, water sports and restaurants from Cape May to Tuckerton.

Now it's bringing its focus back to A.C.

"The main thing we want to do is to get people to look at Atlantic City in a new light," said Sara Lindkrantz, vice president of tourism and communications for the authority. "It's a new day in Atlantic City. Our mission is to get people to stop and take a second look."

But Atlantic City has failed in its quest for the perfect slogan before. Repeatedly.

Anyone remember "Turn on the A.C.?" Despite a $1 million ad campaign, people associated A.C. with air conditioning. Then there was "The New Atlantic City -- We're Betting a Billion On It." That never caught on. And long ago, people stopped believing Atlantic City was "The Queen of Resorts."

For many years, Atlantic City has been stuck on a playground theme. "The World's Playground" was what they called the Steel Pier way back when it opened in 1920. That later morphed into "The World's Famous Playground," which later became "The World's Playground. ... Again." Since 1995 it's been "America's Favorite Playground."

Hey, I've got ideas, and I'm an AC native, so they should mean something. How about "East Coast Action?" It ties to gaming, but it has that unsubtle sexual connotation that gives it some pop. It brings to mind a busy, but not necessarily pristine place, so it isn't being untruthful.

Read the full story here.

KEEN EYE FOR THE OBVIOUS

City officials in Shreveport, LA are concered that casinos might turn their downtown into a neon jungle, with flashing billboards and signs screaming for attention. Here's the story from the LV Sun:

Development around casinos has town officials worried increasingly about the potential for a streetscape cluttered with flashing neon signs, billboards and banners.

The city has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday afternoon on the matter and hopes to draft an ordinance to regulate such signs.

"Certainly, every business needs to advertise, but we have to be cautious of how we let them proceed," Mayor Keith Hightower said. "We don't want a field of lollipops down in the (Red River District) and we don't want a bunch of banners hanging around in an unsightly fashion either."

City Council Chairman Monty Walford, who represents the Red River District, led a city effort to place a six-month moratorium on signs in downtown Shreveport while an ordinance is prepared.

"We've certainly seen a changing character in the downtown area. I thought it was wise to do a moratorium and come up with a good, effective and fair ordinance," Walford said.

I wonder what gave them the idea that casinos might encourage visually stimulating advertising?

SAC BEE: GAMBLERS IN CHARGE

A recent editorial by the Sac Bee pointed with alarm to the influence "wealthy gambling tribes" wield in California's gubernatorial politics, citing the efforts made by Gov. Davis and gubernatorial hopefuls to court the Indian tribes:

Wealthy gambling tribes have eclipsed prison guards, insurance companies and utilities as the biggest campaign contributors to political campaigns in the state. As such, they command attention, respect and fear from those seeking office.

No one knows that better than the candidates who attended the California Nations Indian Gaming Association meeting in Sacramento Friday. The trade association has been aggressive in defending the sovereign rights of tribes vis-a-vis local government. The locals have been rebuffed repeatedly in their efforts to persuade tribes to be good neighbors -- to not overload local sewers, over tax limited water supplies, to pay to help mitigate the traffic their massive casinos generate or for police and fire protection.
According to reports from those inside CNIGA's closed-door meetings, Republican Sen. Tom McClintock and Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante drew standing ovations when they made it clear that they favor speeding new gambling compacts and increasing the number of slot machines tribes can have.

Gov. Gray Davis, who negotiated the original tribe-friendly agreements, got a lukewarm reception. He has been under fire lately for daring to ask tribes to share more of the estimated $5 billion in gambling revenues they take in annually to help the state weather its current budget crisis.

A chastened Davis indicated he's prepared to do tribal bidding in the future, even promising the tribes a role in picking members to the state gambling regulatory commission. The commission is a toothless regulator whose authority has already been undermined by a Legislature awash in tribal campaign contributions. The governor now appears prepared to turn the commission into a virtual lapdog for Indian gambling interests....

Tribes alone operate casinos in California. They have a strong special interest in expanding and protecting their lucrative monopoly. As sovereign nations, free to ignore local and state laws -- even, some tribes contend, the law that requires them to report campaign contributions to candidates for governor -- they are a particularly powerful special interest. The spectacle of politicians grovelling for their money shows just how powerful and potentially corrupting that interest can be.

This is interesting on two levels. First, could anyone have imagined, twenty years ago, that editorials decrying the undue political power of wealthy Indian tribes would be written? This exemplifies the revolution in Anglo-Indian relations that Indian gaming has brought. That alone is significant.
In a parallel point, one could swap the verbiage here for anti-illegal gaming editorials from the 1940s and 1950s. Back then, reform-minded newspapers lambasted the willingness of politicians to tolerate illegal operations. There are the same underlying anxieties over "outside" elements bilking the politicians into permitting them to run casinos that profit from the "citizens." A disturbing, but cogent point, I think.

That's all for today. It's time for class, where, surprise, I'm discussing the history of Native Americans in the Far West before 1850.
posted by Dave at 9:14 AM