Casino Enterprise Management

Palace Casino Resort employees, patrons and Biloxi, Miss., residents had good reason to celebrate during the property’s grand opening festivities Nov. 11, 2011. The opening of the final phase of the 110,000-square-foot, $53 million renovation marked the complete comeback of the resort after its dockside casino was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In this month's headlines, AGEM announes six new members, IGT unleashed its Cloud solution at Gala Leo Casino in U.K., Bally Technologies expands its mobile app games library and powers the world's largest slot machine tournament, SPIELO International receives its Illinois VGT manufacturere license, Aurze Gaming America appoints Robert Ziems, and much more.

This month's Class II titles include Bally's Diamond Peak™, Cadillac Jack's Fiesta of Souls™, Wheel of Fortune® Secret Spins™ Bingo from IGT, Multimedia Games' Stallion Spirit™, Hawaiian Paradise™ from Rocket Gaming, WMS' CHINA EMERALD™ – G+® 5x4-Reel Video, and VGT's Mr. Money Bags Deluxe!™ with Mr. Money Bags Vault!™ Progressive.

This month's new table games and gear features Interblock's G4 Organic Bartop™ and Shuffle Master's Six Card Poker^SM.

Studies have shown that the No. 1 reason people quit their jobs is because they are unhappy with their immediate supervisor. They may work for the company with the best benefits and receive the highest pay, but that is still not enough motivation to continue working in an unpleasant environment. I am sure you have all heard of the Peter Principle, whereby someone is promoted one level beyond their capability.

The month or so that will pass between the writing of this report and its publication is more than likely, or perhaps destined, to see changes in status, positions and arguments concerning the licensing of commercial gaming in New York. The history of modern gaming in the state can be written about definitively, and only broad strokes are of current interest. The present is transitory, and the only certainty about the immediate future is controversy.

When the current executive team for Konami Gaming Inc. formed, they were all in search of a spark. One left three decades with a single employer “looking for excitement.” Another believed in the gaming equipment manufacturer’s capacity for a seemingly unparalleled growth story. A third felt the company’s deeply-rooted “entertainment DNA” in his own bones. Together, they found that inspiration at Konami, ...

One of the greatest challenges facing casino executives is dealing with volatility (significant fluctuations) in table games win. While there is little variance in expenses, table games win can be extremely volatile. Today, casino executives must answer to boards of directors or Indian tribal councils with little gaming experience. Consequently, it is paramount that the executive understands volatility and knows the risks.

2012 may very well prove to be the year that Internet gaming (i-gaming) legally arrives in the United States. Whether by act of Congress or through state-level authorization, it appears that some form of i-gaming will be authorized in the U.S. The universe of authorized i-gaming in the U.S. will likely be limited to Internet poker. Poker is an American pastime and likely the only form of i-gaming that is politically feasible in the U.S. Several states have introduced measures to permit i-gaming.

In this month’s top European news, Sheldon Adelson announced plans to build a Euro Vegas in Spain, Bwin.Party announced that it has launched online poker in Denmark, a Portuguese court has ruled against the sponsorship of online gambling companies, and the Italian government continues to open up the market to offshore betting companies.