Gaming in 2025

My G2E question for 2015 is "What will Gaming look like in 2025?"  In the words of the late Yogi Berra, "The future ain't what it use to be." I asked several top gaming executives and decided to weigh in myself. My vision is at the end of the post. Share your comments if you choose as you share this post with your friends.

                                                                  Ladies first.

“Gaming in 2025 will likely be an enhanced, high-tech hybrid of what we see today.  The bricks-and-mortar casinos will continue evolving to stay on trend with design and architecture, while the games themselves will seamlessly blend on-property experience with on-demand, online options.   The hybrid model will require even more strategic marketing and operational creativity — yet another reason gaming is such a fast-paced and dynamic industry.  That’s why we love it.” 

                                        Wendy Hamilton - General Manager of SugarHouse Casino



 

“Ten years from now, regional casinos will be part of the entertainment infrastructure of every major metropolitan area. There will likely be robust online complements to nearly every casino brand and even more sophisticated technology driving the overall business forward.  That will create steady opportunities to reach new people and continue growing the industry.”

“We can be certain that gaming in 2025 will include online slots and table games as standard fare for all casinos. We also anticipate that sports betting will become a more common and integrated part of the overall gaming picture. Those changes will introduce a younger demographic to the industry overall, whose increasing importance will reshape all operations.”

 

 

Greg Carlin - CEO of Rush Street Gaming

“Ten years from now, regional casinos will be part of the entertainment infrastructure of every major metropolitan area. There will likely be robust online complements to nearly every casino brand and even more sophisticated technology driving the overall business forward.  That will create steady opportunities to reach new people and continue growing the industry.”

                          Craig Clark - General Manager of Rivers Casino Pittsburgh

 

"That’s an exciting opportunity! Ten years from now I think you’ll continue to see casinos and integrated casino resorts providing great entertainment to players. Casinos are not going away, and they are going to offer more entertainment than ever. The games and experiences will continue to evolve, bringing in interactivity, skill, social and new gesture technology. We have an advanced development team working on a lot of exciting concepts right now. I think you’ll see regulators working in closer partnership with operators and suppliers to bring new technology to market more quickly."

 "If I had a crystal ball, I would say that you’ll see online gaming integrated more closely with bricks-and-mortar casinos; mobile payments will be commonplace; multi-platform content and interstate casino progressives will be prevalent; and the effects of player and technology convergence will be quite evident. The year 2025 will be here before you know, and we have innovation teams across the globe already working on inventions for the next decade and beyond."

                       "And Greg Carlin is hailed as the new Steve Wynn!!!"

 

                                                  Gavin Issacs - CEO of Scientific Games

 

I think Gaming in 2025 is going to be a lot different then what I see now. The patrons will be much younger.They will come in groups and have night for socialization that will include dining, shows and gambling. In that order. Our floor will be reconfigured with more stadium style play.

Mobile device will be the method of choice for all players under 30. Our player then is between 15 and 20 now. They will be a section where you can play on your phone. In this area, players can also play games against each other.The casino floor will consist of the sophisticated and affluent player in secluded areas. That should constitute about 30% of our business. The rest will be the young millennial that wants nightlife in a safe environment. More emphasis on security and responsible gaming.

Gaming will have more transactions that are cashless. The amount of  Table games will increase along with skill base games.Games will have more interactive components than ever. They will be sports and fantasy betting kiosks. Television will have in game wagering for all players that have rooms reserved with a credit card. And when the players come in for nightlife, they'll dress like they are vying for the cover of GQ and Vogue on New Years Eve.        

                                                        Here's a glimpse!



Robert Mims aka The Gaming Guy

 

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Is Wagering on Fantasy Sports Gambling?

I saw this question about 10 days ago on LinkedIn. I did not read the response because I knew that I would weigh in on this. I like to maintain my objectivity when I write. I decided that I would compare betting on a football team like the Eagles to wagering on a fantasy team of my choosing.

When I bet the Eagles I take in consideration the line or points spread, homefield and weather. I

also chart the recent history between the Eagles and their opponent. If I can find more pluses to take the Birds then I put my money on Philly. If I can't ,then I don't wager on the game. If all roads and factors point to the opponent, I considered going the other way.

 

Some fans feel this is a form of blasphemy. No way can you bet against your team. A fan and a bettor are two different people. Fans are ride or die. Bettors are live to die another day. Read this paragraph again and you'll get it!

Now when I wagering on a fantasy team, I get to pick this imaginary lineup that would never play together against someone else's dream team of the week or day. I look at homefield, opponent and weather. I considered past individual performances. I also look at any significant injury. The injury variable is incorporated into the spread or line.

So the factors that go into picking a NFL team to wager on are the same as what you look for in betting on a fantasy team. So why is Fantasy a skill proposition and picking a team (Eagles) a gamble? The answer is not Sam Bradford.

The only difference is the point spread. My NFL team must win by more than the number designated or I will lose. My fantasy team just has to win. In a day fantasy league like DraftKings, FanDuel or Yahoo, my opponent and I may have some of the same players on our team.

Wanna Play??

Picking that secondary guy to go with your elite players will make the difference between winning and losing. There is something to be said for finding value at a price. Finding that value is a skill that is not based on luck. Skill ties more into percentages and analytics.

                                        Webster's definition of gambling is
: to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions : to bet money or other valuable things
: to risk losing (an amount of money) in a game or bet

: to risk losing (something valuable or important) in order to do or achieve something.

 

Wagering on Fantasy Sports sounds like gambling to me. And about 33 million other people.

 
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East Coast Gaming Congress and I Gaming Preview

This week, the 19th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress and I Gaming institute will be held at the Borgata Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. This is the top gaming conference on the east coast. The dates are May 27-28.   I will take the opportunity now to preview this event.

The 1st day is dedicated to IGaming. This subject is the hot topic that every gaming operator in the country should be talking about. What looked like something that was not in the foreseeable future 4 years ago is now part of the landscape in New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada. The expansion into 3 of the most populous states in the country will be part of the discussion for sure. Those states are California, Pennsylvania and New York.

There are 3 panels the 1st day. One gives the recap of what I Gaming has done so far. A second panel takes the legislative view of what may happen within the next 18 months. I have a Q&A with Senator Lesniak that will cover some of the points from this panel. I am extremely interested in the following session.

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES*

While significant challenges remain for commercial iGaming in the United States to overcome, attractive opportunities beckon.  How are the issues encountered during the rollout being addressed?  How great is the opportunity for social games and how will they impact legalized casino and poker iGaming?  Are improvements necessary from the player’s perspective? What is the potential for US iGaming and how can it be achieved?  An expert panel of operators, vendors, and player advocates discuss the problems and potential solutions required to fulfill the promise of legalized Internet gambling.

Moderator:

Victor Rocha, Owner & Editor, Pechanga.net

Speakers:

Jon Friedberg, President & CEO, Overlay Gaming
Joe Pappano, CEO, Vantiv Gaming Solutions
Kim Little Sutherland, Director, Identity Management, Lexis Nexis
Dana Takrudtong, Vice President of Sales, GameAccount Network

 

Day Two has two panels that piqued my interest. The first is a group that deals with the Mid Atlantic Region.

THE MID-ATLANTIC: APPROACHING SATURATION?

Sponsored by eMarker

In the $8.7 billion Mid-Atlantic gaming market, as one state expands, another contracts, leaving the aggrieved state to expand its gaming offerings. And so the arms race continues in the Mid-Atlantic, where the word “saturation” is used frequently amid continuous industry and political activity over the last 10 years. Stakeholders from Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia will discuss how much growth – if any – is left in this six-state area.

Moderator:

Ken LeFevre, Managing Partner, Pathfinder Resouces, LLC

Speakers:

Yuri Cameron, Director, Market Planning, LexisNexis
Wendy Hamilton, General Manager, SugarHouse Casino
Bill Hayles, Vice President & General Manager, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Helene Keeley, Member, Delaware House of Representatives
Lou Kirven, Director of Corporate Development, Empire City Casino
Edward Sutor, President & Chief Executive Officer, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

 

The second panel is about Marketing and relating to our next and new customer. The group that is able to unlock this door will be the leader of the gaming industry.

 

THE NEXT GENERATION OF GAMBLING

Sponsored by BMM Test Labs

Casino companies, iGaming operators, and game developers are seeking to tap into the fast-growing online segments of social and skill games, where games once played for fun are intersecting with bona fide gambling. Millennials glued to their mobile devices are driving this trend, which leads to critical questions: What will the casino of 2025 look like as gaming, gambling, and mobile intersect on the floor? Are these games a threat or an opportunity for traditional land-based casino operators? Are regulators in current i-gaming states equipped to test and control these new games? Experts from five different perspectives lead the discussion in this engaging panel.

Moderator:

William J. Pascrell, III, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group

Speakers:

David Chang, Chief Marketing Officer, Gamblit Gaming
Jeff Connors, President, Traffic Generation Limited
Kurt Freedlund, President, Lotto Interactive
Travis Foley, Executive Vice President, Operations – Americas, BMM Test Labs
Peter Yesawich, Vice Chairman, MMGY Global

I'll give my mini forecast of what I see coming from the 3 aforementioned panels.

I Gaming is the way to game in the future. Less emphasis on the personal social interaction and more connectivity through mobile and broadband. The opportunities for job creation and expansion are tremendous.

The Mid Atlantic Market is at slightly above saturation point. There is no growth in West Virginia and Delaware. Pennsylvania and New Jersey will rely on new games and innovations to grow the market.

The Next Generation customer is not a slot player. He or she is a social game player. The skill based component must be part of what appeals to a millinial customer. By 2025, there could conceivably be a casino within every major city in the United States.

Geoff Freeman

The  Keynote Luncheon Address will be given by Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, American Gaming Association.

Three of the 2015 sponsors of the 19th East Coast Gaming Congress include Drexel University,Stockton University and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

I will provide tweets from the active participants thru out the conference. For the entire lineup of  #ECGCiGI ,go here.

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Gaming Interview with ESPN's David Purdum: Sports Betting

A traditional newspaper journalist, David Purdum has covered the gaming industry, with a focus on sports betting, for the past seven years. He has followed New Jersey’s court battles with the sports leagues closely and covered the case for ESPN.com, The Linemakers on Sporting News, Sports Business Journal and other outlets. He has appeared on ESPN’s Outside the Lines and was a panelist on “US and European Methods to Combat Corruption and Match-Fixing in Sports” at the Sports Lawyers Association’s annual conference in 2013. He currently covers the industry for ESPN.com’s new sports betting site, ESPN Chalk.

In addition to his gaming coverage, Purdum also covers professional, college and high school sports for the Sports Xchange and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I follow David on Twitter and look forward to his updates. He is the leading gaming industry report
                                                                     for ESPN.

David is on top of the pulse of the online betting conversation as shown by his participation in I Gaming North America conference. He is part of the panel discussion on the progress report on the legalization of Sports Betting. I was able to get David to share some of his views prior to his session.

1). The NBA and MLB commissioners are receptive to the prospect of Sports Betting. What is the stance of the other major professional leagues?

The NFL and NCAA, at least publicly, have not softened their opposition to sports betting legalization. I believe--and NBA commissioner Adam Silver affirmed it--all the leagues are taking a close look at the benefits of legalization. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has acknowledged the need to take another look at sports betting, but has not been nearly as publicly supportive of legalization as either Silver or new baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.

Notice the two leagues that have come on board with legalization have new commissioners in Silver and Manfred. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract is not up until 2019.

 

2). What would the buy in be for each league to sanction Sports Betting? 

There are several models that have been considered. In Australia, for example, the leagues receive a commission off the amount of money won by the books on the specific sports. In that model, the leagues, indeed, would have a stake in who covers the spread. Obviously, that would not help the public’s perception of the games’ integrity. But it should. In Australia, if gambling-related corruption is discovered, the leagues are subject to losing their cut of the profits. It’s on the leagues to protect their sport’s integrity.

Two New Jersey politicians offered the NBA a .25 percent cut off the top of every wager. The problem with this model is that the margins on bookmaking are very slim. Giving another party a cut off the top will put a strain on the books to offer competitive odds and remain profitable. Australia experimented with giving a cut to the leagues off every wager and found that the books simply quit taking big wagers and pushed parlays and bad odds on customers.

If part of the goal of legalization is to bring the billions be wagered in the offshore market to a regulated environment, the legal books must be able to offer competitive odds.

Mark Cuban also mentioned charging the bookmakers licensing fees to use their data. In January, Silver said the NBA was not ready to announce which model they’re leaning toward.

 

 

3). Fantasy Sports Betting is growing at an alarming rate. Would a Sport Betting initiative slow that?

Not at all. Fantasy sports is embraced by the sports leagues, who helped get a carve-out in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, keeping fantasy sports legal. The legalization of traditional sports betting won’t have any direct impact on fantasy sports, in my opinion.

 

 

4). The UK and other European nations currently have sport wagering. Are they similar to what we have in Nevada?

Yes. In fact, several of the UK’s biggest sports books have entered or are trying to enter the Nevada market. William Hill was the first. It received its Nevada gaming license three years ago. Ladbrokes and Irish sports book giant Paddy Power have expressed interest.

 

5).Do you feel that a national sport betting referendum would impact Las Vegas? They currently have the monopoly on the market.

I do, but I think it will be mild. However, Vegas bookmakers and casino execs have been adamant that expansion would only benefit them. Some of the books have mentioned the willingness to expand outside of Nevada. So while it might not necessarily impact some of the casino companies, I can’t help but think some people who travel to Vegas for big events, like the Super Bowl, would consider other locations where sports betting is legal.

6). The consensus indicates that Sports Betting is coming, just a matter of when. If you were a betting man, what time frame would you give?

The over/under has been set at 4.5 years until we see expanded legalized sport betting in the U.S. To me, it’s all on the NFL. I’ve really learned just how powerful the league is. When it softens its stance, I believe we will see rapid movement toward legalization. I don’t think it is anywhere close to that point yet, though. Remember, Goodell’s contract is up in 2019.

 

 I would suggest you follow David on Twitter at @DavidPurdum. He is informative and connected to the beat of sports and gaming. His panel discussion at  I Gaming North America starts at 3:05PM -PDT. This event is being held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on 4/16/15. State Senator Lesniak is also a participant on this round table. As for me,

 

 

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Online Gaming News from Pennsylvania

On Wednesday, the 1st of a series of meetings took place about the merits and concerns of online gaming in Pennsylvania. It was held at Harrah's Philadelphia by the Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee. This committee is chaired by state Rep. John Payne, R-106, of Hershey. HB 649 was introduced in February by the state rep. It would empower the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to explore online gambling options and to create regulations for any games it approves.



Jan Jones and Ron Baumann testifying before Gaming Committee

The hearing was provided with testimony from Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of Caesars Entertainment Group. Blackhurst told the committee members that online gambling is already prevalent in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country, even though it isn’t legal. Blackhurst stated,“Today’s reality is that Internet gambling is taking place in all 50 states, almost all of it illegally. It’s an environment that’s ripe for fraud and criminal activity and it provides no tax revenue. However, the online gambling experience in the states where it is legal, has been successful from a regulatory perspective. Minors can't gamble, the vulnerable are protected and consumer protections against fraud are in place." Ron Baumann, general manager of Harrah's Philadelphia ,also testified about the allowing Pennsylvania Casinos to increase agility and speed to market. Bauman also express interest in gaming tax credits that would be used as capital investment incentives. This is consistent with West Virginia and New Jersey.

The I Gaming views of Blackhurst and Baumann were shared on part of the regulatory framework and strong consumer protections to:

• Prevent minors from playing, with robust age and ID checks
• Ensure players within borders with strong geo-location technology
• Tools to deal with problem gambling

In accordance with the report from Econsult for the Pennsylvania Budget and Finance Committee, the annual ongoing potential revenue would mean tax collections of approximately  $43 million applying a 14% tax. The industry is in support of a tax rate of 12%. I Gaming would take off quicker with the industry proposed rate. More promotions related to sign ups would increase the number of people that want to play. This would make Pennsylvania a more appealing place to play than Delaware or New Jersey. There are several additional meetings scheduled for April that will continue the conversation about I Gaming ,fantasy sports betting and gaming on mobile device.

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Poker or Fantasy Sports: Which one is the skill game?

Poker and Fantasy Sports are getting a lot of conversation. Both are receiving more consideration as games of skills and not chance. This interpretation makes both of them socially acceptable and widely popular. I decided to compare the two and give my assessment.

Poker has the statistics to determine probability of what may happen based on what cards you have. Stats in poker are constant and absolute. Psychology has a part to play, but a solid understanding of math and probability will increase your chances of winning. The hand and the chances of winning with it have a percentage that is comparable to the other players in the game. When watching shows like Poker Night in America , you are updated as what each poker player's chances are throughout.

Analytical variables are given to players in fantasy leagues that give them value based on past performance.  During the NFL playoffs, a prognosticator was giving predictions based on analytics related to the point spread. Variables in fantasy are subject to exponents that fall outside of the player's control. Weather, illness  and coaching decisions are things that can alter a fantasy player productivity. Think how many people wagered that Marshawn Lynch would score more than 1 touchdown during Super Bowl 49. We all know how that ended.

Poker is the true skill game of the two. I think that fantasy leagues will have a more diverse following that will include women. Poker is played predominately by males.  While there is a poker community that is established, there is not enough liquidity yet for it become profitable. Delaware Lottery reported a combine total of $600,000 for the year ending 2014. This number included casino and slot play. In 2014, several of the online gaming sites in Nevada and New Jersey shut down. Trump Taj Mahal just closed their poker room in Atlantic City. They anticipate reopening in the summer.

The acknowledgement of the professional leagues will build the support for more fantasy leagues. Fan Duel has commercials that air during ESPN telecasts.  DraftKings has added two more teams to its growing list of partnerships in the NBA . Shortly after announcing a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, DraftKings has struck separate deals with the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors.  There is also a  Daily Fantasy Expo this year in Miami. The Expo will focus on management, technology and marketing for the fantasy sports industry. Since 2006, fantasy sports has grown from USD $1.6 billion industry to a USD $15 billion industry. It's meteoric rise is considered the tip of the iceberg, given the new dynamic of Daily Fantasy Sports.

Imagine That!

The upside for poker is it can be played for low limits in the online gaming world.  Borgata and Caesars  are two of the top poker sites in  New Jersey. 888  is one of the leading software providers. Many states are talking about the legalization of poker. We will see who enters the game in 2015

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Fantasy Sports Betting: Skill or Chance?

 

 

I watched Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel this week.  This segment, the HBO award winning series  goes in depth on whether fantasy sports betting is  gambling or a skill. The way fans play today is not

your father's fantasy sports. 

 

 

The old version was pick a join a league of friends, select players for your team, pay your league fee and play a schedule of games. If you  have the best record at the end of the season, you won the lion share of the money collected. Much different now.

 

Today millions of dollars is wagered daily by people that don't know each but operate under the original fantasy betting premise. When the day's games end the winner gets the money minus a 10%

handling fee. The players today use data and analytical spreadsheets to determine their selections. That why the question of skill versus risk comes in. The comparison of today's player to a day trader on Wall Street come to mind. Yesterday's player would be an avid fan of the sport or a particular athlete. Past performances, weather and time are all considerations when picking a fantasy team today. As of this writing, over 30 million people play fantasy sports. Football and Baseball are the two most popular games.

 

This is still gaming but with sophistication. Formal gaming that includes the lottery and slot machines tend to appeal to a clientele that has less funds and limited game awareness. Informal gaming such as sports betting and fantasy wagering requires more money and greater knowledge of  the game.  Any way you look at it, this is a billion dollar business about to explode. Mobile gaming and the legality of wagering on sports in New Jersey make fantasy a money making reality.

Follow me for more insight during G2E 2014 week.

 

Learn more about online gaming and how it can shape your future entertainment experiences.

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