Saturday, October 26, 2013

Philly Casino Entertainment News.

                 Here is a quick rundown on the casino news in Philly.

                              Just a bullet on each due to time restraints.


                                 SugarHouse Casino is having auditions for Let's Make A Deal
 on October 29, 2013          
Get more information at  www.sugarhousecasino.com
                                                  


                                                  Good Luck to all contestants.

  • Parx Casino has a comedy night at 360 that's doing very well. My man Steve Rinaldi did his thing with rave reviews.                                                            


  • Harrah's Philadelphia will have The Real Housewives of New York City coming for cocktails and conversation. Stay tune for more details.




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John Legend Concert at Revel Casino in Atlantic City


John Legend perform last night at Revel Casino and did not disappoint his fans. The tour is entitled "Made to Love." His opening act was Tamar Braxton. She closed her set singing her hit "Love and War." After a brief intermission, the man of the hour took the stage. He sang most of his hits including Green Light, Use to Love You, Save Room and "Tonight(Best you ever had)."
Legend did a cover of a Luther Vandross song that was an awesome rendition. He shut it down with "All of Me." That song is on his latest album, "Love in the Future." He played his piano and did several songs acapella.  That allowed the audience to appreciate his vocal range.
John closed his performance with a song that made everyone appreciate being alive entitled,
"Who Do We Think We Are." The show was amazing and was a true representation of the kind of singer John is, a LEGEND.  No pun intended.
  
                                       Below is a photo from John Legend with comments.

 
He is a 9 time Grammy winner and has a career that spans approximately a decade. Legend is a University of Penn alumnus and has a degree in English with a concentration in African American Literature. He recently married  a swimsuit model, Chrissy Teigen in September at Lake Como in Italy.
 
                                                              MADE TO LOVE!



             Revel's Ovation Hall is a fabulous place to see a concert. Any seat is a good one.



                                                       Below is a video from the concert.


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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

NBA and GTLivechat featuring @Instagram





The NBA 2013- 14 season has some compelling questions that will take an entire 82 game schedule
and the playoffs to answer. I will give you my top five right now.



1). Will the Miami Heat win their consecutive title?


2). Can Derrick Rose regain his form after a year off from surgery?



3). Will Doc Rivers be able to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to the NBA Finals?


4). Can the Brooklyn Nets challenge for the Eastern Conference Crown?


5). What effect will the transition in leadership from David Stern to Adam Silver have on the league?


Follow me throughout the year on Twitter and participate in #GTLivechat.
This is the second year of GTLivechat. GTLivechat is a conversation that is conducted via Twitter with followers around the world. What makes us unique is that we make picks prior to the game and then get a poll of which team is the popular choice.We don't pick every game but try to focus on the top match ups.

If you are interested in the NBA, then GTLivechat is for you. We request that you close each tweet with the #GTLivechat.


This year to expand the reach and globalize the chat, @Instagram will be part of what we do.
Just use the #NBA and post your favorite photo. I will select the best and innovative ones to post to my page http://instagram.com/gamingguym.  I will follow you and hopefully, you will reciprocate. I will add additional hashtags each week. They will include cities and players. Enjoy the season.
                                                            And the pictures!
  


                            Follow me & GTLivechat on Twitter at @GamingGuyM
                            Follow the co-host of GTLivechat on Twitter @KeshisCuties.




 











Monday, October 14, 2013

Philly Dynamic Duo - Richard Stackhouse & Lisa Alxzandria: Aspiring people of the week.

I had the pleasure of interviewing two rising talents from Philly a couple of weeks ago. I could not wait on this any longer. This is my 1st interview where I  had two subjects at once. They are
joined at the hip on a music collaboration that you will enjoy. This dynamic duo consists of Richard
Stackhouse and Lisa Alxzandria.
 
Richard Stackhouse is 24 years old and reside in Philadelphia. He was raised all over the Philadelphia area due to being placed in foster care at the age of 12 until age 21. Richard has always been a major music and entertainment fan and wanted to start his own company. In early 2013, he decided to start his very own independent company called S.E.E. (Stackhouse Entertainment Experience). The purpose of S.E.E. is to feature new upcoming talent. S.E.E. will present everything from Music, Film, Fashion, and Theater.
The first project S.E.E. will be doing is a compilation album titled S.E.E. Presents.... The New, The Now, The Next! It will feature unsigned talent from the Philadelphia area planning to release this winter. The first single from that project is a song written and executive produced by me titled "Running Back To You" it features vocals from singer/actress Lisa Alxzandria. The single is available for download on I Tunes and all other digital outlets.

You'll meet Richard first, then Lisa.





1.) What gave you the motivation to start your own company?

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and I have been writing music for a few years now privately. When I decided to start writing for other artists I wanted to take a different approach rather than waiting for somebody to buy a song. I decided it would be best to release my own music and keep creative control and ownership of rights. Once I release my first compilation project “S.E.E. Presents… The New, The Now, The Next” I plan on expanding to things outside of just music. I want to showcase authors, producers, directors, designers, dancers, and etc.  I would like to create an entertainment experience and not just a music experience.



2). What are you looking for when searching for new talent?

I’m looking for people with raw talent naturally but also people who have the potential to be great entertainers. Some artists have undeniable talent but not enough drive, and some artists are not naturally talented but have all the drive. I’m looking for the perfect combination of both. “The X Factor” if you will.



 3). Are you concentrating on artists in Philly?

Yes I am concentrating on artists in Philly initially. I feel like Philly has so much talent but we have never really got our shine like a New York, LA, Atlanta, Detroit. I would love to start a Philly movement along the lines of Motown or Philadelphia International Records again. That is an ultimate dream and goal of mine to have artists want to be a part of something in Philadelphia without having to migrate to different cities to have success.



4). Who would you mention if I say mentor to you?  Explain why?

If I could have anybody mentor me it would be a blessing to have it be Berry Gordy. He is my ultimate inspiration as a music executive because of what he did with Motown. His autobiography “To Be Loved” is one of the reasons I decided to start S.E.E. independently. I love how he built a movement and had all the major labels coming to him as oppose to the other way around. The way he set up his operation was just genius to me and I would love to pick his brain about a few things.



5). Tell the readers your favorite restaurant?

My favorite Restaurant is Warmdaddy’s. They have a great soul food menu and live music. I love their Sunday jazz brunch and normally frequent when they have concerts and events. It has the best of both worlds for me. Great music and food with an intimate setting.



6). What the coolest city you have ever been in?

I would have to say Antigua I vacationed there one summer and the island was beautiful. There were a lot of poverty stricken areas but the spirits of everybody was very uplifting and inspiring. The island just had a different kind of energy about it I can’t really explain but I hope to go back someday.



7). If you could hang out for a day and could only choose one of the following, who would you pick? JayZ, Diddy or Pharrell Williams?

That’s a tough one but I would probably pick Jay Z for a few reasons….  First I would hope to see Beyonce possibly. LOL. But I would like to know how he continues to build his empire bigger and better. Jay Z makes a lot of innovative power moves that keep raising the bar for entertainment moguls. The fact that he juggles being an executive and overseeing careers of mega stars like Rihanna, Kanye West, J Cole, and etc…. and still remains a viable relevant recording artist is amazing to me. I’m  most intrigued by the fact that Jay Z started his career the way I'm trying to now with his own independent label “ Roc-a Fella”.  He released his debut album “Reasonable Doubt” independently and hasn’t stopped pushing the envelope creatively.
 



8) How did you meet Lisa? I first met Lisa at an open mic a friend of mine does called “Poetically Free”. Lisa was performing and I was a fan of her voice and asked for her contact information. I knew she had a lot of potential as a new artist and I feel like she has a lot of star quality. A few months later I decided to reach out to her about recording the single “Running Back To You” which is the first single released by S.E.E.




Lisa Alxzandria is a Singer and Actress based in Pennsylvania. Her break out year was 2013, when she made her debut as an actress, starring in the S. Charli Production's stage play "BLUE", which ran at the Independence Seaport Museum Theater in Pennslanding. 'BLUE' was ranked in the top 10 of most talked about productions in Philly in the summer of 2013. In addition to her appearance in the popular production, Lisa Alxzandria also released her first single along with a music video. Song titled, ''Running Back To You" was written and produced by Record Label Stackhouse Entertainment Experience and is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and all other digital stores for only .99 cent. You may see this artist performing in public events, festivals, stage plays and other showcases throughout the tri-state area. Hoping to one day become a National Icon, Lisa Alxzandria is not planning on slowing down anytime soon. This beautiful young talent is ready to share her gifts with the world, and become a name and face that is unforgettable.

 





  9). How long have you wanted to be a recording artist?



As a young girl, I discovered that I had a great singing voice. I just liked the sound of it, and I heard compliments all the time. I knew that this was definitely going to play an important part in my life at some point. But I wasn’t always the most confident; having been teased and put down in school about growing up in the foster care system. I wanted to be something great, but I didn’t believe I could pull it off. When I got older, God sent the love of my life. He was so supportive, and inspiring. He helped me believe in myself.  He helped me discover the butterfly I never knew I was. And at that moment, I was then ready to start working towards that dream I had since childhood. And I’ve been working ever since. Wouldn’t trade it in for the world!

     

10) What performer today has a style you admire?




 
I think Beyoncé and Tamar Braxton are absolutely fabulous. However, I’ve always admired the old school artist the most. Regina Belle and Whitney Houston are my all-time favorite. I admire Regina’s ability to do several different types of sounds and styles of music, but still sound amazing every time. Of course, like most people I admire Whitney because of her star quality. She is the perfect combination of beauty, raw talent, and spunk.


 
11)  What venue in Philly would you love to perform at? 

My dream is to someday perform on the Big Wawa Welcome America Stage. This concert happens annually on 4th of July. I go out there every year just picturing myself up on that stage doing my thing. A wise woman once told me you can speak things into existed, so I’m speaking it.
    

12). When you win your 1st Grammy, who do you thank first? Also what color would you wear?

God is first and for most in my life. He’s the one that bought me this far, and will continue to take me even further. My favorite color is blue. 

     

13) An athlete practices before a game. What does a singer do before a show?

Before my performances, I stare in the mirror a lot. Making sure everything looks great. As a singer the viewers are not only interested in your voice, they also love to admire your look. After that, I do my basic voice run through.

         Below is the music video and several links to the project, artist and producer.
     



www.facebook.com/lisaalxzandria

https://www.facebook.com/richard.stackhouse.18?fref=ts


http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=678509544

                                      Expect great things from Richard and Lisa.
.
Follow me for more aspiring people on  https://www.facebook.com/ and Twitter at @GamingGuyM

Check out my website for Gaming and Entertainment. thegamingguym.com
    

 
 

 


 



 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

G2E 2013 Question for Casinos

My G2E question for 2013 is the following. What will gaming look like in 5 years?
I ask each of the respondents to give an imaginative answer. You will  be surprise as to who participated and what they had to say.
 

                                     Roger Gros - Global Gaming Business
                                                                 

Online gaming is the wild card in the industry over the next five years. How will people respond to it? Will Americans gravitate to online gaming as they have to online shopping? How will the casino industry respond? Will they parlay online gaming with their land-based operations? Will they just use online gaming as a revenue stream? Those are the questions we’ll see answered over the next five years.
 
As for G2E, floor space for online gaming companies has tripled from 2012 to 2013, so you can expect that kind of growth to continue over the next five years now that the legal status of online gaming is beginning to change.
 
                                           

                                    Todd Fishon - The Greenbrier
                                          
                                     
Bricks and mortar properties will need to integrate products that have a broader market appeal; basically allocating gaming space for the next generation that looks at technology differently. However, changes in gaming always moves (and needs to move) at a slow pace (look at TITO and server based gaming). My best guess is that in five years, the use of tablets for gaming (slots and table games) will be more prevalent on the gaming floor.


                           Howard Stutz - The Las Vegas Review Journal



My belief is that in five years, we will see a mix of land-based and online casinos throughout the U.S. 

In five years, Massachusetts should have at least one or two of their casinos up and running by then; Maryland's planned casino in Prince George's County should be open or close to opening, Philadelphia will have a new casino and Ohio's gaming market will be going full bore. As for new markets, We should see expansion finally into Texas and Florida. Will Nevada be pressured? Probably. Las Vegas has been slowly rebounding and based on the current timeline, the Resorts World Las Vegas will have opened its initial phase. Also, there may be one or two new projects announced or under development along the Strip, if the economy doesn't take an unexpected dip.

In terms of online gaming, with a state-by-state process currently underway (Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware) other states will join into the mix (California, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Mississippi). Will that be enough to push Congress into passing federal online poker legislation? Possibly, if there is a change in leadership in Washington that is conducive to compromise.
Internationally in five years, Macau and Singapore will be joined by other gaming markets in the East - Vietnam, South Korea and Japan. Still, Macau - with expansion already underway - should retain its dominance as the world's largest gaming market.
Others may not have as much of an optimistic view as I have.
However, gaming companies and individuals have made billions of dollars in investments over the past few decades and will continue to do so into the brick and mortar side of the business. We will see an investment and similar strategy by companies into online gaming.
I believe the two forms will find a way to co-exist as we head into the next decade. 

                      

 

 

                                      Gary Vecchiarelli - Galaxy Gaming 

There are three areas of gaming you will see change.  Foremost, land-based casinos will continue to grow.  Not only will gaming become more socially accepted across the U.S., but states will open up regulations and issue more operators licenses, due to the jobs gaming creates and tax dollars it generates.  Second, we will see technology be increasingly incorporated into the gaming experience.  Not only will technology enhance the player’s gaming experience, but table game operators will be collecting and utilizing more detailed information on their players and their gaming habits, likes/dislikes, eventually increasing brand loyalty and profitability.  Finally, iGaming will provide convenience to players, especially when you factor in access via a mobile platform.  When you combine all of these aspects, I see a highly competitive market and opportunities for hungry companies, especially those our size.  I expect to see some amazing innovation over the next few years and that is what has me really excited.  




                                     Jan Jones - Caesars Entertainment

I believe in 5 years gaming in the US will have changed dramatically. Much of the convenience gaming will have gone on-line and the brick and mortar properties will have significantly geared up their entertainment options to attract a younger demographic. Internet will also be used to introduce the younger player to gaming entertainment and induce them to visit a brick and mortar facility. Our challenge will be to modernize our gaming products to appeal to a younger player. Las Vegas will still be the prominent gaming destination for entertainment in the US and Atlantic City will have found a niche to sustain itself.


I want to thank all of the above group for taking time to answer this. I want to acknowledge Howard Stutz, one of the premiere reporters on gaming in this country. Stutz covers the nation's gaming industry for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Jan Jones Blackhurst, Vice President of Government and Communications at Caesars Entertainment. Jan is known internationally and is renowned thru out the gaming industry. She is a participant in panel presentations at all of the major conferences. I am honored to have made her acquaintance.

 

 

 
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G2E interview with Todd Fishon from The Greenbrier

Todd Fishon, who has worked in the gaming industry since 1987 and helped open Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, was hired to oversee casino operations at the Greenbrier in 2010.
 
Described as Monte Carlo meets Gone with the Wind, the Casino Club at The Greenbrier combines high-roller thrills and high-class style to create an unforgettable Greenbrier gaming experience.  The 103,000 square-foot venue is filled with world-class gaming at its finest. One can enjoy live entertainment, international cuisine and boutique shopping in an elegant setting that revels in the warmth and charm of southern hospitality.
 
Todd is the vice president of casino operations. His expertise is opening resort style properties. I met Todd professionally when he came to Greenbrier. He was considerate in taking time to answer my questions.

                                                            


1).What is the marketing radius of a regional casino?

Depending on competition within your region, a two hour drive market is the most realistic. If you start overlapping into another casinos jurisdiction, the area will decrease. If you are in an area that does not have another viable offering in a certain direction, the area can be expanded.

2).Are the profit margins the same?  Regional vs. Destination

Not including gaming taxes, the profit margins should be higher for a regional casino that has a significant portion of their table games revenue from local gamblers that do not require the same amount of reinvestment as a recruited gambler. Additionally, a regional casino can experiment more with novelty games as they have a more receptive market of regular guest that will try new games. 

3).Does the tax structure influence your floor design?

Having a higher tax structure is more restrictive in slots concerning the use of leased products but is a consideration in table games; especially if you are in an area that does not have a high win per unit that can absorb the fixed costs of leased products.

4).What is the average daily spend at a destination casino?

Daily casino spend is more predictable for a regional casino than a destination casino due to different challenges with each destination. If you are in an area that has a significant amount of convention business, the casino revenue per occupied room will be less than if your resort has a majority focus on casino guests.

5).What games are more popular to a locals market?

Blackjack is the most popular game but of the proprietary games, Three Card Poker (especially with the six card bonus) is the leader followed by Ultimate Texas Hold Em, and Mississippi Stud. 

                                                          


 

6).Online Gaming.  Is it better suited for a regional or destination casino?

Online gaming is best suited for the bigger gaming companies, some of which are prevalent in both markets. However, considering the regulations that are being placed on online gaming, the regional casinos have a lot to gain by attracting the gaming dollars from customers that have to participate in the state that they live.
 
                    Todd also has a commentary in my next G2E interview post.
                                   Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM
                            Other G2E related posts can be found on my website
                                                          thegamingguym.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Runner Runner Review starring Justin Timberlake & Ben Affleck



I just saw Runner, Runner with Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck. This is a movie about a college student (Timberlake) that gets caught up in the world of online gaming. He is playing poker and is extremely good at it. He winds up losing all his money. Timberlake finds that the game he was playing in was rigged. He decides not to take the loss lying down and goes to Costa Rica to confront the owner of the website he was playing on.
The owner of the site is Ben Affleck. His character is name Black. He comes across suave but becomes sinister as the movie progresses. Black is able to bring Timberlake's character (Furst) into his world and convinces him to work for him. Black's world is appealing and full of gambling, sex and parties. There is a female interest name Rebecca. Her character is played by Gemma Arterton.   Black and Furst have mutual interest in Rebecca. This triangle lead to complications between the two.
 
The authorities show up in the character of an FBI agent named Shavers, played by Anthony Mackie. He offers a chance to get out of this exotic but seedy world.Timberlake is face with staying with Black and enjoying this playground or turning him in.




This movie will appeal to Justin Timberlake fans and all poker/gambling enthusiasts.



The AGA is using this film to drum up support for online gaming legislation. The AGA wants a federal law that will have uniformity for casino operators and players.The current situation is state by state rules. Regulations would offer an alternative to gambling illegally on casino games, slots, poker and sports betting. The chief executive officer and president of the AGA, Geoff Freeman, issued the following statement.
“The plot of  Runner Runner centers on illegal online poker and unscrupulous offshore operators, dramatically underscoring the risk American consumers face in a poorly-regulated market.  The film underscores the AGA’s message to lawmakers about the urgent need for online poker regulations in the United States,”
 
 
 

Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey have online gaming plans either in place or proposed. New Jersey just announced they will start their internet gambling on November 26. They will have a
trial period of 5 days prior to insure they are ready to go live.
That is what most casinos do to make sure all of the kinks are out when the public starts
spending money.


I enjoyed this movie because I have spent the past 3 years researching this subject. I also like Justin and Ben so I could identify with their portrayals.  Ben is the stronger of the two in the development of his role. This movie could easily be a true story. Since the film is done in a voice over by Justin, the plot never lifts off to draw the non gaming viewer in. I can only give it 2 stars out of a possible 4.

               Follow me for more Internet Gambling News on my website. thegamingguym.com
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