Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/310713
G a m i n g N e ws Tu e s d a y, M a y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 8 ONE CASINO'S JUNK IS ANOTHER'S TREASURE: SOLD THROUGH EAST COAST SLOTS By Chase Easterling We all know how easy it is to put things off with the intention of dealing with them later, but later never comes. If you are in the casi- no industry, especially the slot department, you know exactly what I am talking about. Most people who are involved in casino slot operations have a "graveyard" full of machines and equipment that they don't have room for anymore, but don't know what do to with. Don't let this treasure collect dust any longer. Turn your unused machines, software, boards, bv's, printers, etc. into cash, now! Getting rid of your unused equipment not only puts cash back into your depart- ment, but also frees up valuable space by getting clutter out of your warehouse. Machines and parts that you may think are worth nothing may have a significant value to someone in the used equipment industry, so why not check it out? Getting fair market value for your equipment is not nearly as difficult as you might think, and can easily be done in a timely fashion. Start with an inventory list of your warehouse, being as thorough and detailed as possible. The more information you can provide, the better your chances of getting rid of all those unwanted items you have lying around. Next, take a few pictures of the products you have available so the buyer knows exactly what they are bidding on. This makes the process much easier and more efficient. Finally, put all this informa- tion together and send it to a refurbishing company for an evaluation. While the com- pany may not be able to take everything you have available, you will be surprised at what will still have value in the used industry. As an industry leader, East Coast Slots has been purchasing machines and equipment from casinos throughout the world for years. East Coast Slots would love to take a look at your equipment. Send an e-mail and let the company know what you have available. Let East Coast Slots help you put cash back into the slot department! For more information, go online to www.ecslots.com, call 954-974-3455, or email sales@ecslots.com. MOHEGAN SUN AT POCONO DOWNS – PLANNING AND DESIGN TO SUPPORT CONTINUOUS GROWTH By Daniel Thornton, RA, LEED AP Project Architect, JCJ Architecture Since its inauguration as Pennsylvania's first casino in 2006, the operators of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (MSPD) have continuously focused on providing an outstanding patron experience and evolving its offerings. Following the ini- tial launch, a major expansion in 2008 and the addition of table games in 2010, MSPD recently unveiled its latest expan- sion – a new 238-key Hotel and Events Center. While many factors have con- tributed to the success of the facility, con- sistency of the architectural narrative and early attention to master planning have played a significant role in MSPD's record of controlled and continuous growth. In 2004, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) charged JCJ Architecture with undertaking a compre- hensive master plan before embarking on upgrades to the existing horseracing facility. The master plan provides insight to enable the MTGA/MSPD team to bet- ter manage its resources and assets. While the design team cannot predict exactly when or how an expansion will take form, we understand that gaming facilities require flexibility and that early decisions have a financial, operational and logistical impact on future growth. The master planning effort undertaken by JCJ identified key areas of potential expansion and demonstrated how build- ing design could ease the development of future work. Examples of these aspects include designing to accommodate future circulation routes and infrastructure require- ments. Since 2005, JCJ has revisited the masterplan docu- ment in order to validate existing assumptions and conclusions – each time making minor tweaks and adjustments to ensure the master plan remains an asset to the owner's team. While integration of planning princi- ples into building design is one way to create greater flexibility, adherence to an overarching design vision is another. As a guiding concept of its 2008 major expan- sion, MTGA wanted the project to cele- brate the local Pennsylvania landscape and culture. JCJ responded with a solu- tion that weaves references to the native flora and fauna into an abstract walk through the local forests. The combina- tion of repeated geometries and related imagery, along with supportive color and material choices, form a powerful archi- tectural statement that frames the overall experience. By creating a cohesive experience that allows for variation and development of special features and unique spaces, expansions can be linked into a single, ever-evolv- ing story. When done successfully as at MSPD, the new work gives the impression of being intentional and correct, and patrons express that a project "came out like it was always there." Design continues to innovate on the existing theme, creating a level of consis- tency while avoiding repetition. This uni- fying vocabulary provides two important benefits: offering patrons a consistent context that is memorable, yet familiar, while promoting the facility as a single whole. This approach allows for strong integration of the Mohegan Sun brand and continues to build excitement among patrons for what it is going to do next. Visit JCJ Architecture at booth 1443. For more information, go to www.JCJ.com, call 860-247-9226 or email info@jcj.com. ATTRACTING THE FAMILY GUEST BASE WITH KIDS QUEST AND CYBER QUEST By Ann Zenor, New Business Development, Kids Quest/Cyber Quest When discussing Kids Quest/Cyber Quest with potential new partners, the question regarding return on invest- ment is a common one. The first answer is simple; offering a Kids Quest/Cyber Quest to support all guest amenities results in more time and money spent on your property. The pro- file of the average Kids Quest customer is one that reflects an active player who games at a rate nearly 96 percent high- er than the average patron. Why? Because Kids Quest provides a safe and entertaining environment for chil- dren, adults are able to stay and play longer, thus boosting casino profit and enhancing the enjoyment of the proper- ty by the family as a whole. When people are happy, they come back to your resort. There are children who ask to go to Kids Quest and Cyber Quest because it is their favorite part of a vaca- tion – ultimately result- ing in free time for the adults who accompany them. In fact, we have families who will bypass competitors of our host properties to visit a casino with a Kids Quest/Cyber Quest instead. Next, there is guest loyalty. Kids Quest clientele are incredibly loyal. So much so that at the request of Mohegan Sun executive management, our facili- ties remained open throughout a remodel last year because they didn't want to disappoint the families who use our services. What about the family guest base? With the destination resort becoming the rule, rather than the exception, gaming properties with an extensive roster of amenities such as bowling, movie theaters, water parks, popular restau- rants and elaborate stage pro- ductions need to be prepared for fami- lies to arrive. With Kids Quest and Cyber Quest as your partner, you will not only be prepared to entertain fami- lies – you will expand your guest base at the same time! Visit Kids Quest/Cyber Quest at booth 1547. For more information, go to www.kidsquest.com, call 800-941-1007 or email azenor@kidsquest.com. THE CASINO CAMP TALENT BUYER – Howard Pitch of The Howard Pitch Entertainment Company CASINO ENTERTAINMENT DIREC- TOR – Juan Baca of Sycuan Casino Both sides will square off speaking candidly in an effort to identify and rec- oncile the obstacles that commonly hin- der the casino headline entertainment booking process. The panel will explore the follow- ing: What is really going on below the surface in the Artist's camp vs. the Casino's camp at each stage of the book- ing process?; How is working with Indian casinos different from traditional venues, and where do Indian casinos fit into the big picture from the artist's per- spective?; What do artists and Indian casinos see as the major challenges of working with each other, and how can we reconcile those differences? Yapsody's main objective is to pro- vide casinos with a deeper understanding of the many objectives and perspectives at play in hopes of streamlining the book- ing process for all involved and for the betterment of Indian gaming. About Yapsody Entertainment Yapsody is the largest full-service concert entertainment company focusing on the Yapsody ( Cont'd. from p. 1) Indian gaming industry. Yapsody has been providing talent buying services to casinos nationwide since 1996, as well as concert production and ticketing services since 2009. Today, Yapsody handles talent buy- ing for well over 200 casino headline con- cert events per year; event production and logistical services for over 150 events per year; and event ticketing for thousands of events and millions of tickets per year. Yapsody's volume within the Indian gam- ing industry is unmatched. As a result, Yapsody clients enjoy unprecedented, unbeatable cost savings and the best access to choice artists. Furthermore, with approx- imately 2,000 presenters in just the first 10 months of operation, Yapsody's newest ticketing system (www.yapsody.com) is undoubtedly the fastest growing ticketing system in history, allowing it to serve as a highly valued and effective platform for promoting Yapsody concert clients' events. Visit Yapsody at booth 939 to check out Yapsody's new products and services, such as the YapStat Event Predictor data- base and reporting system, which prom- ises to significantly reduce risk and greatly increase ROI for Yapsody concert clients' headline entertainment pro- grams. Join Yapsody for Chubby Checker's "NIGA's Got Talent" dance competition and performance by Chubby Checker, Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.