News

Casino Executives Renew their Commitment to Revitalizing and Regaining Table Game Revenues

posted on 6.2.10

Raving’s Cutting Edge Table Games Conference returns August 18-20, 2010 to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

Not that long ago, table game revenue made up close to 80% of casino revenue. Now, slot machines, with the exception of a few niche markets, drive close to 90%. This is visible by the erosion of table game floor space. Will today’s casinos continue to look more like large warehouses consisting of thousands of server-based slot machines with a small pit included as an afterthought? Not if today’s table game executives have anything to do with it.

“There’s a reason why table games have been popular for over a century,” said Dennis Conrad, President & Chief Strategist, Raving Consulting Company. “The experience on a table game, the live action, the speed, the camaraderie, you just don’t get from a slot machine. The challenge for operators is to realize that today’s table game player won’t put up with surly or bored dealers, that they understand the advancement of player tracking and want their play to be accounted for and that they want exceptional service. Frankly, you don’t see this offered in many pits – most casinos are still operating under the old business model." This is the only table game conference in the industry. Click to read full story

Raving Creates New Table Games Laboratory

posted on 7.10.10

With over eighteen new games (at last count) - together for the first time - Raving has created a table games laboratory at their upcoming Cutting Edge Table Games Conference, August 18-20 at Mandalay Bay Resort Casino. Casino execs can not only shop for the next hottest game - to drive needed revenue to stressed casino floors. But they can also take part in over two days of crtical sessions about revitilizing and saving table game floor space. Click to read full story

Two Reno Casinos Compete for Prestigious Casino Marketing Award: Circus Circus Reno and Peppermill Go Head to Head in International Competition

posted on 6.9.10

Who knew there was a contest for Casino Marketing?

There is. And it is called the Romero Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Casino Marketing. It is the only contest of its kind in the casino industry - meticulously judged, chaired and named for casino marketing pioneer John Romero.

Who is John Romero? John started out in the casino biz over 50 years ago in 'Vegas, even before black-jack tournaments. As a matter of fact, he was the first one to introduce tournaments to Las Vegas, but that's another story. Click here to read more

Create Casino Sport Contests that Will Drive Customers Through Your Doors

posted on 5.25.10

Ever wonder marketing executives these days succeed with so many budget cuts and limited staff? How do they keep their head above water and still continually
excel by:

• Creating fresh promotions & contests
• Driving NEW customers through the doors
• Pleasing and growing loyal customers
• Delighting the GM & CFO with high ROI on promotions

Wel l, they build a toolkit which consists of gizmos that are easy to utilize, appeal to their guests and are budget friendly. And one of those tools ALL casino marketers should have is a relationship with the folks at SportGame. Their program makes it the easiest, most effective and efficient way to run contests for your guests. Dane Turner, who created SportGame over 15 years ago, offers all sorts of contests that casino guests love to be part of - professional and college football (including the playoffs and Bowl Games), March Mania, Hockey, World Cup, Academy Awards, Olympics, Horse Racing & Handicapping Contests, Golf, Stock Car Racing. You name it. Click here to read more

Casino Ambassador Program Hot This Summer: Train 50 Employees for 129 bucks each

posted on 7.14.10

Does your floor staff need a shot in the arm to make the most out of your summer busy season? We know it is crazy busy out there for you right now. You know you should be thinking of training; maybe you're not happy with your new card sign ups or your guest service is showing some summer strain. So, the timing might seem wrong to pick up the phone and get a training program, but it's not. For $129 per person, Raving will help you reach your goals by training 50 of your team members through our Casino Ambassador Training Program (minimum 50 employees). Click here to read more

If Your Casino Had the One Magic Bullet to Differentiate Yourself from Your Competitor, What Would You Do With It?

posted on 5.4.10

Your casino has slot machines and table games. So does your competitor down the street.
Your casino has a players club card and competitive rewards. So does your competitor down the street.
Your casino provides 97% payback on slots, high odds on a pass line bet and liberal blackjack rules. So does your competitor down the street.
Your casino has a golf course, hotel rooms and a fine dining restaurant for when the gambler is off the floor. So does your competitor down the street.
So tell me why a GAMBLER would choose your property over your competitors if you offer basically the same gaming experience?
The answer is so obvious and it always has been.
The answer to differentiating your casino from all others is in the way you make your guests FEEL. For a true GAMBLER it doesn't matter if they have more or less cash in their pockets when they exit a casino's doors. What really matters, is that they always leave FEELING LIKE A WINNER.
So, there's your magic bullet. But how do you acomplish this? Read the full article by clicking here

Drive More Revenue on Your Slot Floor, a.k.a. Keep Butts in the Seats

posted on 5.4.10

Question: What do the following casinos have in common?

Isleta Casino Resort, New Mexico; Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino, Oklahoma; Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, California; Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, New Jersey; Chewelah Casino & Two Rivers Casino, Washington; Cypress Bayou Casino, Louisiana; Fire Rock Navajo Casino, New Mexico; Western Gaming, Montana and Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa, Washington ...

Answer: They have discovered the power of turning their slot employees into SALES PEOPLE. For as little as $300 per employee you can create as many as fifty ambassadors with Raving's powerful Slot Ambassador Training Program. Are you next? Click here to read more ...

Lessons from NIGA

posted on 4.2.10

The Raving team and partners returned after presenting three powerful sessions at the NIGA (National Indian Gaming Association) Tradeshow and Conference, April 6-9 in San Diego.

Attendees of the three workshops learned the following:

What tools are literally at your fingertips RIGHT NOW that will allow you to mine your database to reveal the high end players who may or may not be on your radar screen?
What key development strategies will ensure that your top talent moves confidently up the marketing ladder and after arriving, what core practices are a must to be a successful casino marketing executive?
How does your casino create a financially smart advertising strategy that will produce campaigns that work for your casino and your casino alone?

If you were not able to attend these candid and valuable workshops and know the answers to the above questions can help your casino, please give a shout out to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , VP of Business Development, 775-329-7864. If you did attend and dropped off your business card with a Raver, you will be getting a link to the PowerPoints the week of April 12 or you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Raving also had a tradeshow booth (check out our Facebook page for pictures) and had the opportunity to network with our favorite clients along with our Raving Recommended Resources: SportGame, Red Circle Agency, mark-it Smart and Raving Service.

Want more Raving learning? We’ll be presenting at the Southern Gaming Summit and Bingo World in May. And of course, you won’t want to miss July's Advertising and New Media Summit and Casino Marketing 2010.

Bi-lingual Training Program

posted on 4.2.10

Raving Service President, Steve Browne and Raving business partner Silvia Katsilometes, President, BilingualHR, Inc., have joined forces to bring the “customer worship” message to casinos in Spanish and English. Steve told us, “For years, I have worked extremely hard on my training message, bringing stories from the heart, sharing experiences from my beginnings as a casino janitor to being a GM of my own casino. I realized that the vital nuances of my message weren’t always being fully comprehended. Having someone like Silvia that understands Latino business cultural values and attitudes and can translate the true meaning of my words makes them much more significant to those who may feel more comfortable learning in their native language.” Click to read full story

The Power of (Almost Free) Marketing

posted on 5.4.10

Not all marketing has to cost the proverbial arm and leg. Wouldn't it be advantageous if you could S-T-R-E-T-C-H your marketing dollars and get more mileage for little or no cost? How wonderful it would be to have the CFO smile down upon the marketing department for a change, while you look like a hero, magically leveraging more for less. What might surprise you is that I'm not just talking customer service here (although that certainly is an excellent and cost-effective marketing tool). (Read the full article by Toby O'Brien in Indian Country Today Insider Gaming)

Exhibitors Sign For Table Games Conference

posted on 4.2.10

ShuffleMaster and Unlimited Concepts are first to sponsor Raving’s Cutting Edge Table Games Conference, August 18-20, 2010 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. In its third year, this annual conference is the only one of its kind, speaking directly to those casino executives responsible for not only holding on to table game realestate but growing its revenues. What makes this event so unique? Not only does the conference bring together the most dynamic industry experts to answer some of the toughest marketing and operations questions facing table game execs, there is a full tradeshow floor of game inventors and table game suppliers. Click to read full story

Ease of Doing Business: mark-it Smart!

posted on 3.17.10

We've always called them players club "stuff guys." You know, the folks that can get you everything from pens, pots or luggage with your logo on it, to whatever form of unique "Tchotchke."

You've seen casino guests, waiting in lines to receive a place setting of dishes - because by gosh , they are going to collect all eight settings no matter what day of the week they have to come in. They proudly wear their favorite branded denim shirts until they blow the elbows out. Now, how many of you have found the perfect vendor has enticed you with best prices and the best quality - but when your promotion comes around, you are giving out rain checks to very angry guests?

That's why Raving has been very selective in recommending any type of promotional supplier - because we hear about too many disappointed marketing folks. Enter mark-it Smart, Raving's Recommended Resource for Promotional Products, aka "stuff." Read the full story by clicking here.

Hit Me with Your Best Punch!

posted on 3.10.10

Al Bernstein returns to host the Romero Awards at Casino Marketing 2010, July 19-20, 2010 at Paris Las Vegas. Bernstein teamed up with Raving and BNP Media in 2009 to host the prestigious awards bringing an added professional edge and celebrity to the ceremony. This event is one of many in 2010 for this Hall of Fame boxing announcer as he celebrates his 30th year as a national broadcaster.

Bernstein has been the voice of boxing on Showtime since 2003, serving as analyst on Showtime Championship Boxing. He started his national broadcasting career in 1980 as analyst on the Top Rank Boxing series on ESPN. At the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games he served as analyst on NBC’s boxing coverage. Starting in 1983 with the Marvin Hagler-Roberto Duran fight, Al has called over 60 major pay per view telecasts of fights featuring ring legends like Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr. and many more.

The competitive and sought after Romero Awards are named after casino marketing pioneer and author John Romero, to honor those gaming operators who best fulfill the spirit of John’s more than 45-year crusade for effective, measurable and accountable casino marketing expenditures.

Each year, a panel of expert judges, chaired by John Romero himself, selects winners for their excellence in casino marketing, in a variety of important marketing categories including Direct Mail Marketing, PR Campaign, Casino Floor Promotion, VIP Promotion, E-mail Marketing and Web Site Marketing. Submission deadline for the Romero Awards is April 30. For more information go to www.casinomarketing2010.com or contact Raving at 775-329-7864, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Schwartz Reviews “Conrad on Casino Marketing”

posted on 2.25.10

Conrad on Casino Marketing is still making a splash on bookshelves after being released last year – click here to read a review by Dr. David Schwartz from the Center for Gaming Research. According to the doc … “If you’re in the casino business, this is a book you should definitely read. Whether it confirms what you already thought you knew or opens your eyes to a new perspective, Conrad on Casino Marketing is sure to make you think.”

To order your copy or to look at all of our publications, click here.

Conrad on Casino Marketing provides powerful, yet often humorous insights into the crazy world of casino marketing. Assembled from his well-read columns in Casino Journal and Native American Casino, this book has it all: detailed analysis of the things that do and don't work; views on the state of commercial and tribal gaming industries; personal stories and anecdotes that offer valuable lessons; tips, strategies and practices that will make your businesses more profitable and successful; and much, much more! For David McKee's (Las Vegas Advisor) review "Captain Casino Sales Again" - click here.

Raving Welcomes New Partners

posted on 2.22.10

Welcome Red Circle Agency and mark-it Smart, who joined as Raving Recommended Resources for 2010. Thanks also to longtime associate SportGame for renewing their partnership. Raving aligns itself with top industry suppliers and service providers to be the one stop resource for gaming clients. For more information on becoming a Raving Recommended Resource, please contact Amy Hergenrother, VP of Business Development, 775-329-7864 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Promotions Designed for the "Racino World"

posted 2.20.10

There is a gem of a promotion designed especially for those of you that are in the "racino" world that Raving learned about after talking with our long-term Associate, Dane Turner of SportGame. Keep in mind that the same technology can apply to any type of casino contest. Dane shared a new handicapping contest that has been a huge success with his racetrack clients. It is a great cross-promotion for slot players and those who like to play the ponies: $10,000 weekly prizes; SportGame records and scores the contests; it is inexpensive and the results can be turned around in minutes. Sounds too good to be true? To read more click here.

NIGA Workshops Confirmed

posted on 2.20.10

Raving has been asked to conduct two workshops this year “Using your database analysis to build business development opportunities for your casino hosts” and “Developing your tribal marketing executives” during the NIGA tradeshow, April 6-9 at the San Diego Convention Center. Raving Recommended Resource Red Circle Agency will also conduct “How an advertising audit can save your casino millions of dollars.” For more information click here.

New Conference Announced!

posted on 2.18.10

Raving and BNP Media announced a timely new conference – the “Advertising and New Media Summit” which will precede the annual Casino Marketing Conference on July 19, 2010 at Paris, Las Vegas. This one day event is designed specifically for casino marketers on how to leverage traditional advertising and marketing with 21st century web, text and social media tools. For more information go to casinomarketing2010.com.

Conrad Guest Lecturer at SDSU

posted on 2.20.10

On request from Katherine A. Spilde, Ph.D., Chair, Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming Associate Professor, School of Hospitality, and Tourism Management, San Diego State University, Dennis Conrad presented to an international classroom on February 17. In a lively and candid Q&A, Conrad shared a lifetime of casino marketing learning and real world observations. The goal? To give students a sense of what the casino marketing world is really like. For more information on upcoming speaking events and conferences, please go to Raving’s event page. To book Dennis or any of the Ravers as a guest speaker or for casino pep rallies, please contact Amy Hergenrother, VP of Business Development, 775-329-7864 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Raving to Honor Virginia McDowell

posted on 2.18.10

Raving and BNP Media, co-producers of the Casino Marketing Conference,will present Virginia McDowell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award on July 20 at Paris Las Vegas. With nearly 30 years of casino experience, she has proven leadership in both regional and destination markets. She has been successful in the areas of operations, information technology, business development, and marketing, including sales, corporate communications and branding. Before joining Isle of Capri, McDowell served as executive vice president and chief information officer for Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. and earlier in her career she spent 16 years working in the Atlantic City market before joining Argosy Gaming Company in Alton, Ill. as a member of the turnaround management team. For more information on this event, please go to www.casinomarketing2010.com or contact Christine Faria, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 775-329-7864.

Biloxi Here We Come!

posted on 2.15.10

Raving has been asked to lend their expertise again at two upcoming events in May at Bingo World and the Southern Gaming Summit, May 4-6 at Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, Biloxi, MS. Catch Steve Browne’s popular “Sellin’ Paper and Callin’ Balls” and Toby O’Brien with the “Ten Best Tactics for Growing Your Bingo Business” at Bingo World. Dennis Conrad will be moderating “Profiting in the Pit: A Survey of the Best New Table Games” at the Southern Gaming Summit. For more information go to www.sgsummit.com

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