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Gaming News 9 Friday, March 27, 2020 2020 Best of Show The Occupational Health & Safety Issue the Gaming Industry Is Ignoring All occupations and industries have their employee health hazards. The gaming industry has focused on second-hand smoke, noise-induced hearing loss, high- er risks for alcoholism, gambling addic- tion, depression and repetitive physical activity induced ailments, to name a few. But there is one health issue that is lacking discussion and therefore not being properly addressed – improper foot care and how it relates to negative overall body health and wellness. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), 77 per- cent of Americans say they have experi- enced foot pain. When you add in a phys- ically demanding work environment to the above, the percent undoubtedly rises. Foot issues can be attributed to a couple things – genetics and incorrect footwear – for the job, the environment and the individual foot. Genetically speaking, a person can be born with flat feet, high arches, the ten- dency to over-pronate (feet roll inward), etc. The good news with genetics is that they are not incorrect issues that need to be fixed, but rather supported to avoid set- backs and future debilitating conditions. However, genetic features are often exacerbated, and new foot ailments are developed, when a person wears unsup- portive, poorly designed or improperly fitted footwear. For example, if the arch on a flat- footed person is not properly supported, especially during an 8-12 hour workday, breakdown happens, body weight pres- sure is unevenly distributed, contact with the ground is lessened, reducing balance and stability and the body unnaturally shifts, resulting in pain in the knees, hips, back and shoulders. The body becomes biomechanically inefficient, which leads to an unproductive worker. But finding footwear that fits every individual foot can be difficult. No one person's foot is exactly the same, and while the selection of footwear brands to choose from is immense and diverse, all are built and designed for mass produc- tion – not individual customization. The physical consequences to your employees are many. Short-term issues include muscle fatigue, leg and foot swelling, balance issues, lack of concen- tration, minor foot, leg and back pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, muscu- loskeletal disorders and more. Long-term issues include worsening of existing coronary heart disease, chron- ic heart and circulatory issues, varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, major foot, leg and back pain, knee and joint pain, plantar fasciitis, high blood pressure, arthritis, bunions, pregnancy complications, poor posture, tendonitis, soft tissue injuries and more. All of the above issues lead to high absenteeism, low retention, low produc- tivity, low concentration, increased BWC claims and insurance rates and overall bad morale. That's not good business. The solution to these business issues along with improving the occupational health and safety issue of improper foot care is for your employees to stop buying footwear to fit their foot, but to fit their foot to the footwear. For more information, go to www .customfit.me. Bowling Brings Profitability and Guests to Casino Resorts Bowling is changing the landscape of what a destination casino resort can look like, according to Adam Saks, Chief Operating Officer of UltraStar Multi- tainment. "We strongly recommend bowling as a vital piece of the puzzle for those casinos who see an underserved entertainment market." Saks has found that bowling serves local community members and resort guests while also generating impressive revenue for investors. UltraStar has part- nered with Brunswick Bowling to include bowling in three Multi-tainment centers to date: at Ak-Chin Circle in Maricopa, Arizona; Harrah's Cherokee Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina; and at Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy, North Carolina. Bowling is an excellent choice for tribal casinos looking to diversify their offerings, provide more family-friend- ly activities for members and keep guests on the property longer. Bowling is a proven revenue generator in its own right, while also boosting other revenue streams, including food and beverage. "What arose as an idea and request from our tribal elders has become a busi- ness that will sustain many in our com- munity and region and provide another pastime for those in our communities and those visiting from other parts of the country," said Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed. Saks has been impressed with the ways bowling has kept up with the times and the changing demands of today's consumer. "The innovation in bowling products allows the modern bowling center to provide both affordable family fun and an exciting nightclub environ- ment," said Saks. "We are creating a boutique, cozy and elegant feel where cus- tomers can have fun with the entire family by enjoying great food, a full-service bar, a lounge and a state-of- the-art visual experience, all of which drives the length of stay." "It's hard to find a more universally appealing activity than bowling," Saks continued. "Bowling is multiplayer, interactive and even collaborative. The physical nature of the action and the excitement of healthy competition all aid in a comprehensive wellness goal the community has for its members. The bowling center is important to the com- munity in many ways. First and fore- most, it is a complete departure from gaming. It invigorates the young while energizing the elders. Our bowling center also makes a dramatic impact for the community mem- bers' employment opportunities for those 16 and older." "In compari- son to other attractions, bowl- ing provides a faster return on investment than more complicated and expensive options," said Saks. "For casinos, bowl- ing centers are lanes to profitability. Bowling provides you with a very low overhead and operating cost. Proper design of a bowling center will allow you to maximize labor for efficiency and ensure a smooth guest service experi- ence." Brunswick provides the casino resort industry with a full range of services from feasibility studies and project plan- ning to facility design, construction man- agement, installation and training. For more information, visit www .brunswickbowling.com/bowling-centers.