East Coast Gaming Congress Recap Day 1

The East Coast Gaming Congress entered it's 20th year of providing information and updates from the top organizations in the gaming industry. This year opened with the I Gaming Institute.

After the welcoming address, the keynote presentation was given by Itai Pazner, Head of B2C,

888 Holdings. Mr. Pazner cited the growth in E Commerce along with the potential increase of DFS and social casinos as reasons for optimism. 888 is currently in 9 regulated markets.

The 1st roundtable was the I Gaming: The View from New Jersey. This panel consisted of several top operators and one regulator. It was moderated by Eugene Johnson, Senior Vice President from Spectrum Gaming. The key takeaways  from this discussion were the absence of cannibalization with the online gaming product compare to the brick & mortar. George Rover, Director of Gaming Enforcement for New Jersey indicated that in over 2 years there was not one case of underage gambling.

The sessions were divided for the next panels, so I went to the I Gaming Expansion- Who's Next?

Pennsylvania, California and New York were all mentioned as possible players with different levels of optimism. California and New York are leaning to Poker only in an online gaming environment.

Pennsylvania would mimic New Jersey and do casino games and Poker. None of these states appear ready to leap into action in 2016.

One of the final panels of the day was Attracting Millennials: How to connect with the Next Generation. Each participant on this panel felt that the creation of an integrated resort experience that has non gaming amenities along with gambling is the way to go forward. Operators must have multiple catch points and target the millennial customer differently than a Baby Boomer or Generation X patron.  Victor Rocha, Owner and Editor of Pechanga.net, cited skill based gaming as a way of building the casino floor of the future. Chris Davidson, moderator and VP of Global strategy for MMCY Global had an excellent slide presentation. Sarah Robertson, from Income Access  & Dana Takrudtong, Vice President of Sales for GAN, represented their companies admirably. This was the highlight of the first day at #ECGC20th.

A networking event closed the day. It was held at the Pool at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City.
                                                                Here is a peek.

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                             My day two recap of the Conference will be on LinkedIn.

This Week in Gaming Review

 

The 3rd week of 2016 featured outstanding news from Atlantic City.  Revel is reportedly going to reopen as a waterpark and a casino. The casino will be a smaller version of the previous model. Since they closed in September 2014,  the amount of rooms available at the shore decreased by 1400. That does not include the rooms lost by the closing of Showboat, Atlantic Club and Trump Plaza. While the occupancy rate has risen, the demand for a room will drive prices up as well. Not good for the consumer. The reopening will alleviate a part of that. No timetable was given.

 

The conversation about Online Gaming in Pennsylvania was revisited by State Rep John Payne. Payne is the current chair of the Gaming Oversight Committee. He predicted that some form of gaming outside of the brick and mortar casinos would be approved by July. This will double the amount of people that are playing currently. Good news for 888 and Caesars Interactive.

A hearing on Tuesday was held to talk about the possibility of sports betting. This would be in concert with a resolution introduced late last year urging the U.S. Congress to repeal a ban on sports betting. Pennsylvania is being proactive with the hearing of the proposal by New Jersey that request that wagering on games be allowed by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. This hearing is scheduled for February 17. ESPN Chalk provided coverage of this hearing and cited the opinions the Commissioners of the NBA and MLB.

 

 

Finally, New York has New York will have another crack at online poker. Legislation that would regulate online poker sites in the Empire State was re-introduced this week. The measure was considered last year but didn’t gain any traction in Albany. The bill is from Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, who is pushing legislation along with Sen. Bonacic, who has yet to re-introduce his proposal. Both are at the helm of gaming and racing committees.  The amount of money projected in the 1st year of operation was estimated at 120 million. That is the same amount that Pennsylvania projected for the online gaming market 12 months after launch.

This news regarding Poker is cited from Cardplayer.com.

 

Last week, I went 2-2 with my NFL selections. My best bet was Seattle + 8.5 in a teaser. Today my best play is the over 47.5 in the Panthers and Cardinals game. Enjoy the games.

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My Top Gaming Interviews of 2015

Just in case you missed it, here are my top gaming interviews for 2015. I won't rank them. I'll let you decide that. But these were my favorites based on number of hits and the content. I considered how they resonate with my audience.

 

My post about Marketing and Online Gaming with views provided by Luisa Woods from Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. The interview with ESPN top writer on gaming and sports betting.

The imaginations of Greg Carlin and Wendy Hamilton were on displayed in my post about Gaming in 2025.

Jessica Dawley

 

The combination of Poker and Jessica Dawley captivated readers when SugarHouse Casino hosted Poker Night in America. The interview with Scientific Games CEO Gavin Issacs gave insight on how

to connect with millenials.

 

 

#HappyNewYear

 

 

 

 

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Gaming Mid Year Review 2015

In case you missed it, we have hit the halfway point of 2015. If you are into gaming entertainment,this has been 6 months of speculation throughout the industry.

Here are the highlights of 2015 with my bold predictions of what happens by the end of the year.

 

 

 

 

Casinos proposed in North Jersey with tax revenue going to Atlantic City. Prediction -No.

Governor Christie supports it. New Jersey has a 30% approval rate of him. They will reject

his initiative.

Atlantic City has the Pier and Revel reopening.  Prediction - The Pier reopens while Revel

does not. Bart Blatstein's track record in Philly shows he can develop a project and make it

appealing. Nothing definitive for Revel until 2016.

 

    

Pennsylvania gets online gaming this year. Prediction - No! The interest is there but the difference on the tax rate will morass the process. The budget for fiscal year 2015-16 will take center stage with taxation and educational expenses. Gaming will take a backseat.

 

 

California and New York will have online Poker. Prediction - No! Not enough support to sustain traction. They will revisit the issue in 2016 to beat a proposed federal ban.

Sports Betting will be approved outside of Nevada. Prediction - Yes. This is the year of acquising to popular opinion. A landmark Supreme Court ruling regarding marriage. The legalization of marijuana use for recreational and medicinal purposes is a further example of giving in to public demand and making a profit. Can you spell prohibition? Sports Betting is something that is accepted by the public and some of the professional sports leagues. Fantasy Sports wagering is just the precursor to allowing gambling on a live event. Once approved in New Jersey, Pennsylvania will lobby for it as well.

                           Share a comment if you choose. Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

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Online Gaming News from Pennsylvania

The Online Gaming talks are continuing in Pennsylvania with both sides presenting bills and testimony before the PA Gaming Oversight Committee in Harrisburg. The bills before the committee

include one by the Chairman Rep  John Payne with Bill 649, and Rep Tina Davis with HB 920.

There is another bill that is Poker only. The two that are mentioned have the best chance of moving forward with bi partisan support.

The opponents of any online gaming legislation are lead by Sands Bethlehem Casino and Vice President of Government Relations, Andy Abboud, stated the position that online gaming would not protect underage children from gaming. He also cited that gaming online would not support the brick and mortar operations. Mr. Abboud was questioned by Rep Davis about mobile apps that are currently used by Sands in Nevada and how that differentiate from what would be considered in Pennsylvania. There was no definitive answer given. She also ask Mr. Abboud about a fine Sands received in Las Vegas for a substantial amount of money. Mr. Abboud was not able to recall the fine and averted the question.

The proponents of the online gaming legislation included Caesars Vice President Michael D. Cohen and Penn Gaming Vice President of I Gaming Chris Sheffield. Cohen cited the success of Caesars Interactive in Nevada and New Jersey while Chris spoke of the integrity and safety nets of the international online gaming community. Sheffield also highlighted the employment opportunities online gaming would add to the state. Cohen and Sheffield jointly agree that the perspective of their testimony would transmit to a proposed online gaming environment in Pennsylvania.

Entertainment at its best

 

The technical side of the process was provided by GLI Vice President of Government Relations, Kevin Mullaly and GeoComply Operations Manager Lindsay Slader. Each gave either a demonstration or explanation of how technology works in other jurisdictions with gaming online. The consensus was that this is something that can be done and regulated with the controls that the Commonwealth would feel are appropriate.

My take is that all businesses that are successful must have an online presence. If it is minimize, then the amount of revenue is dramatically reduced. If I have a competitor in a neighboring state that can provide a service that I can't, I am at a competitive disadvantage. Will that disadvantage be limited to geographic boundaries?  No! If I want to play in New Jersey, I can still drive there. So if the promotions of playing online entice me to do so, I would play less in my home state. If the same promotion was available where I live, I would play there. Note the staggering decline in gaming revenue in Atlantic City was parallel to the increase of money spent wagering in Pennsylvania once tables and slots were approved. There was a direct correlation.

If this online gaming initiative continues thru May and gains traction in the PA State Senate, things could get very interesting. Stay Tuned!

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Sugarhouse Casino and Poker Night in America

 

 

This weekend the fireworks and spotlight will be in Philadelphia because SugarHouse Casino is hosting Poker Night in America, a poker based television show that is aired nationally on CBS Sports Net on Monday nights, 9pm EST. The show is sponsored by 888Poker, one of the top online poker and casino operators in the U.S. regulated markets.

On Sunday, Poker Night In America is shooting their second Ladies Night event a SugarHouse starting at 3pm EST. Ten top women poker players will compete in the televised $25/50 cash game that carries a minimum buy-in of $5000. The participants in Ladies Night II Lineup are:

·     Beth Shak

·     Caitlin Hall

·     Ebony Kenney

·     Jamie Kerstetter

·     Jen Shahade

·     Jessica Dawley – 888Poker Ambassador

·     Karina Jett

·     Kristen Olieberg

·     Natasha Barbour

·     Samantha Abernathy

 

The game will be streamed live on Poker Night in America website and youtube channel and will include live commentary from the players. The first Ladies Night Event was the most watch live stream from Poker Night in America in 2014. Women are excellent poker players, evidenced by the popularity of the event, and they have helped to expand the viewing audience for poker.

 

Sugarhouse is leading into the event with a 100,000 guaranteed poker showdown, Thursday, April 23 thru Monday, April 27. The buy-in is $250 with a 30 entry fee grand prize tournament. This puts SugarHouse on the same  level with some of the more established poker rooms on the region. This was part of the vision when the poker room open approximately 6 months ago.  Rosemarie Cook is Vice President of Gaming and instrumental in the growth of SugarHouse Poker.

Cook states, "SugarHouse Poker is thrilled to be able to host an event of this stature having only been open for 6 months. It's a first for us and we're very excited. This is not only our first multi-day tournament, but the first one in Philadelphia. We want to introduce the poker room to those who haven't visited yet and keep those who have been here coming back. Hosting Poker Night in America including Ladies Night II and Phil Hellmuth is a great way to do it. Our inaugural event will be one to remember." 



Jessica Dawley

 

888Poker brand ambassador, Jessica Dawley, and “Poker brat” Phil Hellmuth are adding star power to the event along with many other poker pros. On Monday, Poker Night in America will announce the winners of the First Annual, Golden Ace Awards as part of a media day at the casino. The awards are given to players who excelled in different categories during Season 1 of Poker Night in America. Go to 888Poker.com to see a list of the nominees.

    Here is a breakdown of the weekend leading up to the awards.

 





Phil Hellmuth Autograph Signing

4/24 Friday 6PM

 

 

 

 

 

Poker Night in America Taping Schedule

 

·         4/26 Sun 3 p.m. –  Ladies Night II

·         4/27 Mon 3 p.m. – Cheesesteak Poker (2 p.m. Media Availability/Cheesesteak TBD Stunt).Includes Tony Luke Jr. (Tony Luke's), Frank Olivieri (Pat's Steaks), and Geno Vento (Geno's Steaks)

·         4/28 Tues 12 p.m. – Cash Game taping with Pros

·         All PNIA players are invite only. This is a cash game with a $5,000 initial buy in. They allow a maximum of $15,000 buy in total. The majority of players are professional poker players.

 

               I will have some live tweets and photos from the Ladies Night II event on Sunday.

 

As of Sunday evening, this event has exceeded expectations and is an overwhelming success.

 

Here is the live stream from Poker Night in America.

http://t.co/TGT406CSCi

 

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Gaming News from Pennsylvania

This past week, Sands Casino in Bethlehem made a proposal to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to authorize electronic gaming with live dealers. This is being done in Macau with great success. It allows the gaming operator to accommodate additional play while maintaining the human element of the game. Players can wager on up to four games at one time. The electronic game will never be slowed by buys, cheque changes  and color ups. That a win -win for the operators and the players.                                                 

                                                                     More Action!

 

Sands President Mark Juliano and Table Games  Director Jack Kennedy are showing logic with this proposal.  They are creating jobs and additional revenue for the state. The tax rate will be at the table game level which is significantly lower than slots. Sands is also using an area of the casino floor that is underperforming presently and maintaining the current mix of slots and table games. I 'll give further updates as to the status of this proposal. 

 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is also making my highlight reel with the discussion before the Gaming Oversight Committee regarding skill games. Testimony was provided by Executive Director Kevin O' Toole, Chief Counsel Doug Sherman and Chief Technology Officer Michael Cruz.

Kevin O'Toole

This is important to the operators as they look for new ways to grow the market. Borgata Casino in Atlantic City is looking at a three on three tournament as a skill based event. This is a first for a casino. Pennsylvania is looking at how skill based events could be incorporated into their regulations. Currently, with slot machines, a skill base component may be present in the bonus round of a game. This does not change the rate of the tax. That tax rate is currently 55%. I would anticipate something significantly lower if a three on three tournament was held in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

 

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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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