"Table games driving success of Pa. casinos"

[junior_counter]

From article, "HARRISBURG - One year after table games opened in Pennsylvania casinos, there's one rule of thumb: If you want to know where the tables are, follow someone younger than 30 ... Table games such as poker and blackjack are enjoyed by everyone, they say ... What that means is that casinos have a lot more new customers than they did a year ago - and a lot more money."

http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-11/news/29761451_1_table-games-sugarhouse-casino-casino-revenue

The seemingly new AC angle of drawing younger crowds w/ those party pits, beer pong tables, etc., may not be the way to go. Keep things simple: Bring back better rules, and advertise them effectively so it is easily understood by the normal everyday gambler. You see it done with slots- 95% back guaranteed, etc... Pull people in to lose their money at little slower rate, then maybe more people will make the trip to AC and on top of it, stay longer. Stay a nice full day, or weekend at the beach, opposed to PA day trip(s). Especially the younger crowd, not settled down with as many responsibilities. Once in a location, they may have the luxury to wing it and stay later or overnight. Spending more time at the tables and more money in the casinos.

AC had an advantage as far as hotel accommodations, but that may be going away now too. Sands PA just opened a hotel this summer.

 

[Gamblor]

From article, "HARRISBURG - One year after table games opened in Pennsylvania casinos, there's one rule of thumb: If you want to know where the tables are, follow someone younger than 30 ... Table games such as poker and blackjack are enjoyed by everyone, they say ... What that means is that casinos have a lot more new customers than they did a year ago - and a lot more money."

Looks like I haven't been working hard enough. I will redouble my efforts.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

From article, "HARRISBURG - One year after table games opened in Pennsylvania casinos, there's one rule of thumb: If you want to know where the tables are, follow someone younger than 30 ... Table games such as poker and blackjack are enjoyed by everyone, they say ... What that means is that casinos have a lot more new customers than they did a year ago - and a lot more money."

http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-11/news/29761451_1_table-games-sugarhouse-casino-casino-revenue

The seemingly new AC angle of drawing younger crowds w/ those party pits, beer pong tables, etc., may not be the way to go. Keep things simple: Bring back better rules, and advertise them effectively so it is easily understood by the normal everyday gambler. You see it done with slots- 95% back guaranteed, etc... Pull people in to lose their money at little slower rate, then maybe more people will make the trip to AC and on top of it, stay longer. Stay a nice full day, or weekend at the beach, opposed to PA day trip(s). Especially the younger crowd, not settled down with as many responsibilities. Once in a location, they may have the luxury to wing it and stay later or overnight. Spending more time at the tables and more money in the casinos.

AC had an advantage as far as hotel accommodations, but that may be going away now too. Sands PA just opened a hotel this summer.

I agree that party pits and beer pong are not the way to go. That may attract young male gamblers but it gets boring very quickly. It also turns off everyone not in that target demographic.

Better games and most of all, better service is what that city needs. The employees are nasty and seething with hate, checking into a hotel feels like a visit to the DMV. The problem is finding employees without that Third World attitude who are willing to live in Atlantic City. AC thought they were being smart by building up the casino area and leaving everything else a slum, but in the long run the slum will always encroach and win the battle.

 

[Gamblor]

AC thought they were being smart by building up the casino area and leaving everything else a slum, but in the long run the slum will always encroach and win the battle.

If the casinos were smart, instead of spending their resources trying to thwart us counters (and usually shoot themselves in the foot doing so), they should invest in a few bulldozers and the R&D money to build these things from Robocop to keep out the riff raff:

 

[Ferretnparrot]

I think that the party pits are a GOOD way to approach the problem. The younger crowd is a crown not experience in gambling in such a way that they simply havnt experienced it yet. Luring them in with items tuned to that age group may promote buisness in the future as they learn about the fun they can have inside the confines of a casino.

Perhaps in the future they wont be looking to go play beer pong, but instead enjoy the beach, clubs food, or just flat out go play the games.

Perhaps though there are other angle of attack they could be working from as you guys suggest

 

[Jack_Black]

I think that the party pits are a GOOD way to approach the problem. The younger crowd is a crown not experience in gambling in such a way that they simply havnt experienced it yet. Luring them in with items tuned to that age group may promote buisness in the future as they learn about the fun they can have inside the confines of a casino.

Perhaps in the future they wont be looking to go play beer pong, but instead enjoy the beach, clubs food, or just flat out go play the games.

Perhaps though there are other angle of attack they could be working from as you guys suggest

It's effect is very limited. how deep are the pockets of young males? how many young males have a gambling problem? how many young males consider gambling their first vacation idea, vs going to the beach to hit on chicks, vs going to another country?

I agree that it's setting up for business in the future, but how many business models put 30 year potential customers as a first priority? 2nd, 3rd? They want results and profits now.

 

[Gamblor]

It's effect is very limited. how deep are the pockets of young males? how many young males have a gambling problem? how many young males consider gambling their first vacation idea, vs going to the beach to hit on chicks, vs going to another country?

I agree that it's setting up for business in the future, but how many business models put 30 year potential customers as a first priority? 2nd, 3rd? They want results and profits now.

Most businesses aren't smart enough to look beyond the current quarter. Some are smart enough to covet the young, that's why the 18-35 advertisement demographics are so prized, because a company like, lets say Coca-Cola, realize that you have to build a brand identity with the young for a lifetime.

Casinos, especially here in NE and AC, are completely oblivious to this. They'd rather have slots to rake grandma and grandpa of their SS checks for the current Q, all minimum $25 tables if they can to completely price out the young and poor (who often become richer later on) and furthermore treat you like dirt if your young and not betting big. Your playing $1 BJ, nah, no drinks for you, no way we're comping you a sandwich either. Only exception to this was Borgata. Good ol' Borgata back in the day. "Your just a bunch of punk kids here for a bachelor party and you want to upgrade to a free suite on a Saturday? Sure here you go!"

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Most businesses aren't smart enough to look beyond the current quarter. Some are smart enough to covet the young, that's why the 18-35 advertisement demographics are so prized, because a company like, lets say Coca-Cola, realize that you have to build a brand identity with the young for a lifetime.

Casinos, especially here in NE and AC, are completely oblivious to this. They'd rather have slots to rake grandma and grandpa of their SS checks for the current Q, all minimum $25 tables if they can to completely price out the young and poor (who often become richer later on) and furthermore treat you like dirt if your young and not betting big. Your playing $1 BJ, nah, no drinks for you, no way we're comping you a sandwich either. Only exception to this was Borgata. Good ol' Borgata back in the day. "Your just a bunch of punk kids here for a bachelor party and you want to upgrade to a free suite on a Saturday? Sure here you go!"

Borgata, Trop and Taj seem to want to cater to a younger crowd, and that's a good thing in some respects but also creates an environment not always welcoming to the older people who are the bulk of the casino's income. Even I sometimes notice it, when drunk guys in their early 20's show up at the table, slow down the game with goofing off and asking dozens of tiresome questions about the game they don't understand. I don't like that when anyone does it because I'm an AP and don't like slow or irksome players. But I'd think a serious gambler would like it even less.

Some of the young players (particularly the ethnics, particularly at the Taj) can also be menacing, even when sober. If they're menacing to me, I can only imagine how a person who isn't as prepared to defend themselves might feel. If I had to pick only one demographic or the other, I would pick the pensioners over the gangsters.

 

[Gamblor]

Borgata, Trop and Taj seem to want to cater to a younger crowd, and that's a good thing in some respects but also creates an environment not always welcoming to the older people who are the bulk of the casino's income. Even I sometimes notice it, when drunk guys in their early 20's show up at the table, slow down the game with goofing off and asking dozens of tiresome questions about the game they don't understand. I don't like that when anyone does it because I'm an AP and don't like slow or irksome players. But I'd think a serious gambler would like it even less.

Some of the young players (particularly the ethnics, particularly at the Taj) can also be menacing, even when sober. If they're menacing to me, I can only imagine how a person who isn't as prepared to defend themselves might feel. If I had to pick only one demographic or the other, I would pick the pensioners over the gangsters.

Just stay away from Bally's, Trump Plaza and Taj Mahal if you want to avoid a particular undesirable young demographic/ Yes I've dealt with these people plenty of time unfortunately.

Even this the casinos could nip in the bud if they chose too, but they seem scared to do, again short sighted casino management. Also I suggested previously investing in some bulldozers for AC

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Just stay away from Bally's, Trump Plaza and Taj Mahal if you want to avoid a particular undesirable young demographic/ Yes I've dealt with these people plenty of time unfortunately.

Even this the casinos could nip in the bud if they chose too, but they seem scared to do, again short sighted casino management. Also I suggested previously investing in some bulldozers for AC

We may be talking about a different demographic. I've gotten the racial abuse at Bally's, but that is something I'm accustomed to working around. Taj has less of that, and more Russian thugs. I heard one Russian woman keep calling a black dealer "boy," and I told her to STFU, because I don't want to hear any American insulted by a foreign commie. Those people can be even more menacing than the ghetto types.

Showboat can be kind of sleazy too, full of crack whores and TV's sometimes. Felt like one of the prostitute gauntlets in the low-end Strip properties, but not cheery or attractive at all. Then of course there is the pimp/whore parade at the center bar in Caesar's but they come and leave quickly, you'll probably never see them unless you know they are coming and look for them. All of these things are going to discourage every demographic except for young males.

 

[alwayssplitaces]

I just find it sad to see old people get on a bus to AC from NY every day and gamble away their social security checks. It's like gambling fills a void in their lives after they retired and their kids moved away over a decade ago. It sure is an expensive way to waste your time. I'd rather see the tables filled with young people gambling for entertainment.