Casino Enterprise Management

Many companies are eager to shut the book on FY2009, but proposed legislation from health care reform to new reporting requirements might just make for a challenging FY2010 as well. Faced with a federal budget deficit that reached a record high $1.42 trillion at the end of the 2009 fiscal year, revenue-raising measures will become a focal point for the Obama administration and Congress.

With the new administration in Washington, D.C., comes a new and unprecedented era of government-to-government relations between Capitol Hill and Indian nations.

The Holland Casino Rotterdam expansion, by New York City-based architectural firm ICRAVE, forged through a setback to emerge as a versatile and engaging entertainment option. With an emphasis on lighting and designation of spaces, the casino has a young, fresh atmosphere where there is something new to discover around every turn.

December marked the opening of the much anticipated MGM MIRAGE and Dubai World CityCenter project. CEM’s Managing Editor Krista Reiner and I traveled to Las Vegas to cover the opening and for a series of business meetings and client calls. Reiner stayed at the beautiful and lavish Vdara Hotel, which is one of the six towers at CityCenter; I stayed at the nostalgic Golden Gate Casino on Fremont Street.

For any company hoping to hit it big in Nevada’s gaming industry, a Herculean challenge awaits—obtaining a gaming license in the state. One such company recently fortunate enough to pass that grueling test is Ainsworth Game Technologies— and only after years of waiting.

Check out the new table games and gear featured in the January 2010 issue. Included are the six-card poker game Dealer Bluff™ and the exciting blackjack alternative, Blackjack Switch, from Shuffle Master, and the bright and colorful Alphabet Roulette from INAG.

When it comes to player satisfaction, the more wins the better, right? Wrong. Player payout itself is not the only factor to consider in the player experience, and a bank of machines paying a 99 percent return to the player can sit idle while another bank returning only 87 percent can have lines of patrons waiting for an empty seat. Wilson lays the groundwork for meaningful volatility in this first in series on hit frequency.

After four failed attempts, Ohio voters have finally approved casino gambling in the Buckeye State. On Nov. 3, 2009, the Ohio constitution was amended, ending a nearly two-decade campaign by several different pro-gaming sponsors. Find out how some savvy politics, a favorable tax structure and a little competition made all the difference.

From profitability to player popularity, there’s a lot to consider before ironing a side bet decal to your blackjack tabletop. Find out how to max your profits on this once-scoffed offering, while maneuvering through licensing rights, mathematics, regulatory approval and training. Zender also lists and explains some of the side bets that he has already seen in use in casinos today.

G2E had little impact on investor confidence, and the AGEM Index was down for November despite a surge in the Dow. Could Dubai World’s risk of default be to blame? Check out this third-quarter wrap up with analysis by Union Gaming Group.