Casino Enterprise Management

Step inside a traditional casino in downtown Las Vegas and what do you see? More importantly, how do you feel? The atmosphere is gloomy; it is windowless, dark and smoky, and the customers are seemingly lethargic after spending hours on the same slot machine. The allure of these types of casinos is the prospect of winning money, not enjoying the surroundings. However, this traditional concept has begun to change, and Native American casino owners are picking up on it — and profiting.

I am frequently asked why I left the East Coast and a mega-casino resort in favor of the West and a midsized casino resort. The staged tongue-in-cheek response: Oregon was as far away as I could conceivably travel from my ex-wife and still be located in the continental United States. The reality is, as an outdoor enthusiast, Oregon offers me a wide array of beautiful and magnificent natural resources.

Move over Motown, Detroit’s got a new player downtown. On Oct. 2, 2007, the MGM Grand Detroit — the only Detroit hotel, gaming and entertainment destination that’s 100 percent brand new from the ground up — took the automobile Mecca for the hottest ride of its life. MGM Grand Detroit’s 3.6 million square feet of pure luxury offers its guests top-notch entertainment, lavish accommodations, unrivaled amenities and unprecedented glamour.

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union agree on one thing, at least: to disagree on whether or not the regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has the authority to oversee labor practices at Foxwoods Resort Casino. This is where the two sides stood on Oct. 15, at the close of a hearing on the battle over dealer unionization at the world’s largest casino.

Check out these new Class III slot titles, available now for your casino floor! Featuring Aristocrat's Tahiti Magic, The Wizard of Oz and Press Your Luck by WMS, IGT's Diamond Jackpot and Lil' Lady, Scarab's Key and Snake Eyes by Vision Gaming, Spielo's Cash Rescue, Konami's Chip City and Spanish Rose, Ainsworth's Pyramids Secrets and Dragon Power, Black&White Sevens Frenzy and Cashed Up by Bally, Magnificent 7s by Aruze, Mushroom Mojo and Bewitched Spin by AC Coin & Slot, Atronic's Imperial Rome and The Game of Life Career Choice, and Seven Heaven by Cadillac Jack.

Check out these new products available now for your gaming property! Featuring the SpinStation by Acres Bonusing, ATI Consortium's Innovative Signage, and TruBalance by Casino Gaming Source.

What happens when you get a group of gaming manufacturers together, many of whom compete against each other for business every day? Great accomplishments! This group of frequent rivals, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), has become a united team when it comes to issues that impact its businesses and the gaming industry.

Sophomore year of college was challenging. It was a period marked with intense feelings of alienation, self-loathing and emotional regression. Oh, wait, that’s now. Sophomore year was awesome! None of my friends had made anything of themselves yet; there was not a single life-sucking lawyer, super-specialized plastic surgeon or other manifestation of a respectable professional amongst us.

Some years ago I competed in a sport called “Schutzhund.” It’s a dog sport that was developed in Germany back at the turn of the 20th century and was actually designed to be a breed suitability test for German war dogs. It requires knowing genetic histories, specialized puppy development, devoted training that is a more of a lifestyle than an expense, and endless patience. I could go on for pages describing the nuances of this fine sport; however, I shall leave you with the fact that it is an investment of spirit, time and passion.

The casino gambling industry is in a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. New gambling resorts seem to spring up daily, and construction budgets have soared from millions to billions of dollars, begging the question, “How big can legalized gambling grow?” But perhaps a more sobering question is now appropriate: “How long will legalized gambling last?”