Casino [ptz]
formerly the Gaming Studies Weblog

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Thursday, April 01, 2004

Big bucks at the Red Apple

For a retired truck driver, this was no April Fool's joke. Instead, today he claimed the $239 million Mega millions jackpot. Most people would consider this a huge deal, but for him, it was "no big thing." From news.yahoo:

J.R. Triplett of Winchester said he bought five tickets at a store a few miles from his home and told his wife, Peggy, the day after the Feb. 20 drawing, "Sweetheart, I've got those numbers.

"Then she got down on her knees and thanked the Lord," Triplett said in a statement issued by the Virginia Lottery.

A Virginia Lottery official said the winning April Fool's Day claim had been verified.

"The ticket is good. Everything is cool," Ed Scarborough said.

Despite his wife's excitement, Triplett said in his statement that "It didn't excite me all that much. It's no big thing to me."

The $239 million jackpot is the world's second-largest single-ticket lottery win. Jack Whittaker of Scott Depot, W.Va., won a $314.9 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas 2002.

Triplett purchased the ticket at the Red Apple Country Store in Stephens City, about 80 miles west of Washington. The numbers drawn were 1-13-20-21-30 with Mega Ball number 24. The odds of winning were one in more than 135 million.

Yahoo! News - Va. Man Claims $239 Million Jackpot

Should I reconsider my innuendo in yesterday's post that gambling is not a viable solution to financial problems?
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KNPR update: On Monday, they'll be playing a commentary I cut today about the Siegfried and Roy marquee coming down at The Mirage. It's fundraising season there (KNPR, not The Mirage), so if you haven't already, make a contribution to support listener-supported public radio. It's the least you can do.

I'm going to be updating sporadically next week, as I'll be making yet another trip, this time to the tri-state area. Yes, that means hitting New Jersey (Atlantic City), New York (Manhattan), and Connecticut (Foxwoods) in one week. I've never been to Foxwoods, so I'm looking forward to it. It should be a good time had by all, which as always means I'm not sitting in front of a computer checking stories and posting things. As always, I'm available by email.
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posted by Dave at 5:07 PM

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Failed casino marketing

Selling people on a trip to the casino can be hard. After all, people have many places to spend their free time and discretionary income. Originally, casinos offered loss leaders like cheap food and good entertainment to lure gamblers; today, most have loyalty programs that encourage repeat visits. But a New Mexico casino has crossed that thin line between entertainment and desperation by running a TV commercial suggesting gambling is the answer to financial woes like a limited cash flow or mounting personal debt. From news.yahoo:

The Isleta Casino Resort commercial ran earlier this month featuring a young woman who suggested that the answer to unpaid bills piling up from holiday-season shopping sprees could be found at the casino, which operates just south of Albuquerque.

The casino declined to comment on why it pulled the ad, but the spot drew condemnations from numerous critics who said the commercial was morally reprehensible.

"It's outrageous. This is the first time I've heard quite this outlandish an appeal," said Guy Clark, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Gambling. "This ad aims, like a rifle shot, at New Mexico's clientele that is uneducated, desperate and poor."

One image in the ad showed a smiling woman with an outstretched hand receiving dollar bills.

"So, the holidays have passed, and those credit card bills just keep piling up?" an announcer intones in the ad, according to a transcript published in local media. "Well, Isleta Casino Resort comes to your rescue."

The ad was shown for several weeks before being pulled off the air last week.

Yahoo! News - Casino Pulls Ad Aimed at Those in Debt

"Isleta Casino Resort comes to your rescue?" Are they serious? This transcends bad marketing decisions--it actually touches on the blatantly predatory. If an anti-gaming group wanted to write a script for a bogus pro-casino commercial that portrayed the industry in the worst possible light, they couldn't do a better job. Even though the ad was pulled, I'd like to get a video copy and a transcript for the Gaming Collection, just to preserve it for prosperity.
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posted by Dave at 2:36 PM

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Thundering along in Reno

Apparently, though the Thunder Valley casino outside Sacramento has been successful, the sky has not fallen in Reno. From the SacBee:

Like Brutus' love for Caesar, Macbeth's patriotism or Howard Dean's presidential campaign prowess, the economic demise of "The Biggest Little City in the World" seems to have been greatly exaggerated.

"It's true that the gaming segment of the economy has taken a hit," said Harry York, chief executive officer of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, "but the economy in general here is hot. We're just exploding. It's like the Roseville-Rocklin region in your area."

There is little question that Thunder Valley's success has had an impact on the casino industry in northern Nevada in general and Reno in particular. And describing Thunder Valley as "successful" is like describing Niagara Falls as "wet."

Based on earnings reports by Station Casinos, the company that operates Thunder Valley for the Auburn tribe, the casino stands to net more than $300 million in its first year.

Industry analysts say that would make it one of the most lucrative casinos in the country, perhaps trailing only two Indian casinos in Connecticut and the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas.

"Obviously, it's hurt us; not only us, but the whole northern Nevada market," said Jack Fisher, general manager of the Boomtown casino and hotel complex a few miles west of Reno. "You've seen the numbers."

The numbers indeed are sobering for people in these parts who make their living from gambling.

Pinnacle Entertainment, the company that owns Boomtown, reported earnings from the casino were down 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared with the fourth quarter of 2002. The Silver Legacy Casino's net income for 2003 was down 44 percent from the previous year, and Circus Circus Reno plummeted 56 percent.

"It is estimated that the Reno market draws about half of its customer base from Northern California," Moody's Investors Service said in a report that downgraded the stock outlooks of several Reno casinos in December. "While the Reno market has already been on the decline for several years, the successful opening of Thunder Valley Casino ... has had a further negative impact."

But some analysts say the slump is more likely to be short-term than fatal.

"At some point, the slide is going to stop," said Ken Adams, a Reno gambling industry consultant. "We're going to survive. We're going to have to retool, and it won't be the Reno of yesterday, but the industry will survive here."

And there is plenty to suggest that despite the gambling recession, there is more about Reno's economy to praise than to bury:

* The job growth rate for the area was 3.9 percent last year, triple the rate of 2002.

* The unemployment rate for January was 5.0 percent, below Sacramento's 5.7 percent.

* Increased convention business and a general recovery from a deep slump after the Sept. 11 attacks pushed the area's visitor count and hotel occupancy rate higher this past January than they were in January 2003.

* The current issue of Inc. Magazine rates Reno as the sixth-best medium-sized city in the country for business.

And most tellingly, the area's traditional reliance on gambling as its economic base gradually is shifting. According to state economic figures, the percentage of jobs related to casinos and hotels (23.8 percent) has fallen behind the percentage in the warehousing, transportation and utility sector (25 percent).

"It (gambling) has gone from probably 50 percent of the (economic) base to around 30 percent," said the Chamber of Commerce's York, "and that will probably continue to change as other businesses grow and expand and gambling stays flat."

York and other local officials say that even as Reno's casinos have suffered from competition with California casino tribes, the overall economy has prospered because of its proximity to California - and California's troubled business climate.

sacbee.com -- News -- While Thunder Valley thrives, Reno keeps its seat at the table

In one of my more pundit-ish moments (I don't have them often, and often feel like a tool after I do) I predicted that one day, people would move to Nevada for the favorable business climate and low taxes and vacation at California casinos, thus reversing the process that led to the expansion of the Nevada gaming industry in the 1940s. Maybe it's not such a longshot.
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posted by Dave at 2:49 PM

Monday, March 29, 2004

Online lottery in NJ?

Garden state lottery officials say it's not online gambling, but a new lottery game allows players to play interactively online. Or at least it looks that way. From the AC Press:

Cyber Slingo works this way: Players buy $1 tickets at a Lottery retailer, then access the Cyber Slingo Web page from any online computer. Players register (there's a parental lock), then input a 13-digit code from the lottery ticket.

Cyber Slingo, which resembles a bonus slot machine, has all sorts of video bells and whistles and takes about five minutes to play. Winners must return to a Lottery retailer to cash in.

"It's an interactive way of playing the lottery game and determining whether you won or lost. It's no different that if you buy Crossword, one of our popular scratch cards. You take it home and scratch off through a series of matching letters to make words and win prizes. It takes several minutes," said Foster Krupa, the Lottery's marketing and instant game manager.

Or it can take no time at all: The Lottery retailer can instantly determine whether you have won.

Atlantic County News: The Press of Atlantic City

This proves the argument central to Uneasy Convictions (my forthcoming book about gaming prohibition): gaming always moves along with technology. Cyber Slingo is apparently an online version of the typical scratcher game, simply using a different delivery system. Still, does this mean that the State of New Jersey is in the online gaming business?
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posted by Dave at 9:18 AM

Gaming Studies@UNLV | Casino [ptz] | Archives | Email

I am the maker of rules, dealing with fools/I can cheat you blind

What is Casino[ptz]?

In a sentence: "A weblog featuring news, notes, and opinions from the world of casinos and gambling."

Casino is self-explanatory; ptz refers to a surveillance camera that can pan, tilt, and zoom, thus offering the operator a better perspective and more detailed shot.

Casino [ptz] was maintained by Dave Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

As of now, Casino [ptz] is not being updated. Instead, you can find Dave's wit and wisdom on his own website, www.dieiscast.com. \

Go there now, for casino carpets and more.

The opinions expressed are those of Dr. Schwartz and not those of UNLV or any of its students, staff, or faculty.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Dave at dgs@unlv.nevada.edu.

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You can't win money here, but you can take a quiz or two.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with two quizzes I have devised for your enlightenment and entertainment.

1. Do you know gambling?

If you've read this weblog, I'll bet you do.

Take the...

Gambling quiz

(view the Scoreboard)

This quiz features ten questions about gambling, mostly in casinos.

2. Do you know casino history?

Take the...

Suburban Xanadu quiz

(view the Scoreboard)

This quiz features ten questions taken from the pages of Suburban Xanadu.

If you've read the book, the quiz should be a snap.

Or, take the quiz and see what you are missing.

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Read about strange slots and more.

Classic posts

Bashing the Donald

Betting on cheating

Las Vegas bites!

What happens in Vegas...

Porn or advertising?

New Jerseyans talk funny?

Mystery Creature from Maryland
Update: Mystery solved

Seven questions

Dave's book quoted in Parliament

Bird gets Trumped
(Fuzzy Zoeller unleashed)

Merger update, 7/04

A game called hope

Casino blocking monument?

Slots, urban design, and destination dreams

BJ by the sea

News of the Inane

Dogs not playing poker

My book is a buzz word

Mega merger mania

Stripped of dignity?

Of sleaze and goldmines

The Real Addicts

WSOP thoughts ('04)

Sweet Georgia busted

Secret to a long life

Don't be afraid, the clown's afraid too

Failed casino marketing

Out of this world?

It's a Hard Rock Life

Hastert blasts casinos/2 tiger tales

Russian Regulation?

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In Memoriam

Claude Trenier

Shannon Bybee

Si Redd

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These bloggers are in the Casino[ptz] club.

Other blogs

Alberta Gaming Research Institute Library

Bill Barol's Blather

Love and Casino War

Online Casino Legalization Blog

Poker Babe's
Game Journal

Presence of Mind

PokerProf's Pokerblog

Email Dave if you want him to add your blog.

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Who is Dave Schwartz?

Dave Schwartz is the coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, which means that he spends most of his time at work doing three things:

1) Extending and improving the collection of books, journals, and primary materials about gambling known as the Gaming Collection.

2) Working on digital initiatives, such as this weblog and the GSRC site, that facilitate the understanding of gaming research and gaming issues.

3) Answering questions about gambling from media and researchers, or directing them to the answers.

Atlantic City, NJ-you can see Dave's home in this photo, but he won't say where.

Before coming to UNLV, Schwartz worked in the Atlantic City casino industry as a surveillance officer. He is also the youngest person known to have received a Ph.D. in History from UCLA.

Schwartz is the author of Suburban Xanadu: The Casino Resort on the Las Vegas Strip and Beyond, which is an intelligent, accurate account of the creation and legacy of the Las Vegas Strip. Click on the link for more information about this best-selling book, or just buy it from amazon.com.

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In his own words:

"To answer the biggest question I get, no, I don't gamble. I know the odds and, having spent more hours than I care to remember watching people gambling, it doesn't excite me at all. So why do I study gambling? Because the industry and the interactions fascinate me.

"Las Vegas is an interesting place to live, and my job gives me a good window on the city. In a typical day, I might go from talking about gambling books with a system player to answering a question from a reporter from a major newspaper to meeting with casino executives. So I think I can bring a unique perspective on the industry and the people who make it work."

To learn more about Dr. Schwartz, go here.

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The unofficial Casino[ptz] mascot

It's the mystery mammal, of course. Dave is currrently developing a "Mystery Mammals" cartoon idea. Hey, if "Father of the Pride" works, maybe animal cartoons will become the next big thing.

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Just because

Dave just likes these images, and hopes you do as well.

You'll find strange non-sequiturs in many Las Vegas casinos, but none as heart-warming (literally) as this dragon. He once belched flames and terrifying townsfolk, but now he stands watch over some nickel progressives.

It's always important to remember your roots. Dave has chosen this image to constantly remind him just where he came from. It is a heraldic crest gone wrong.

Oh yeah, Dave also likes to see his name in lights. This is a genuine, non-photoshopped image...or is it?

Casino carpet is almost (but not quite) abstract art. This is from a real casino floor in a real Las Vegas Strip casino. Guess where and win a prize!

Here are some closing thoughts from Orff's Carmina Burana, "Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi" (Fortune, Empress of the World):

O Fortune,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty and power,
it melts them like ice.

Somehow I don't think you'll find that in any casino advertisements. But Carmina Burana would be a great casino show, particularly sectons 2 and 3, which deal explicitly with gambling, drinking, debauchery, and sex.

The opera is almost an adaptation of the 13th century version of "what happens in Vegas (or, in this case, Beuren), stays in Vegas. Certainly it has all the elements of a great revue extravaganza.

people have panned, tilted and zoomed since July 2004.