These are my 3 Takeaways from the 2021 G2E. This was my 1st trip to Las Vegas in 2 years so I could have easily added more to my list. But these three are areas I envision that will gain traction over the next 18 months. Watch the video and read my commentary, Tell me what you think about where the gaming industry is going.
1). CashLess Transactions: Even before Covid 19 changed the way we interact with each other,cashless gaming transactions were available in Europe & the UK. Covid is expediting the transition to having those transactions here in the United States. As oppose to counting a large sum of money and transfering it from your facility to a finacial institution, a digital trnsaction would save time and money. Jonathan Micheals,SVP for Strategic Development of Sightline Payments is instrumental in the conversation about the advantages associated with going cashless.
2). Mobile Technology expansion to the casino floor: Remember the days when using your phone in the sports book or near a table game was totally prohibited. Well look for the advent of a mobile expierience that the casinos will welcome. Resorts World Las Vegas has a loyalty system that a player can utilize if they did not bring their player's card to the casino. If the player has his phone the play can be tracked and the player can recieve an accurate rating of his action. This saves money because the casino does not have to print up a new loyalty card everytime the guest forgets to bring it. It also allows the marketing team to know when you are playing and increases the opportunities for the casino to connect with the guest. A player could have match play downloaded to his phone while playing blackjack or an odd boost tailored to his favorite team after a score.
3).The Importance of Media: The sucessful operators are partnering with media companies to promote brand awareness. So the way to stand out is to have content that is engaging and spurs conversation. How is your message extending beyond your facility? Is it being communicated within your building? The use of social media is imperative to reach outside of your geographical radius. There is a substantial gain associated with a strategic digital marketing plan that operators & media collectively work toward. The propect of gaming and media has me at the perfect intersection.
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