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Just one month after rejecting a single casino in New Hampshire, the House was back at it considering a new proposal to legalize two casinos that would have shared a total of no more than 5,000 slot machines and 240 table games.  The bill failed by a single vote, 173-172!  Deputy Speaker Naida Kaen was presiding over the session and cast the deciding vote.

You may already know that high atop the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas exists a number of thrill rides that are not for the faint of heart, or for the Acrophobic.  At 1149 feet, The Stratosphere is the tallest freestanding observation deck in the country, and offers spectacular panoramas of the Las Vegas strip and surrounding desert.  This attraction represents the continuing array of ways you can spend your money at Las Vegas on experiential offerings vs. hunkered down at a slot machine or a craps table.  You can now add to this list the newly opened “SlotZilla Zip Line”, part of the Fremont Street Experience in down town Las Vegas.  For $20 a zip, you can ascend to a 12 story slot machine-themed platform where you’ll be propelled 850 feet on a cable, soaring above tourists halfway down the Freemont St. canopy.  Plans are under way to make it longer, faster and more thrilling….just like a trip to Las  Vegas!

If you’re searching for a place to play a hand of black jack or visit a new slot facility, north of the Massachusetts border is not looking like the place to visit.  We’ve recently read about the failure to pass casino legislation in New Hampshire.  Vermont has never warmed up to the idea of casino gambling, and imposes strict fines on any violations of their anti-gambling laws.  And now the Maine Senate has rejected efforts to expand casino gaming.  Of course unlike Vermont and New Hampshire, Maine has already licensed casinos in Bangor and Oxford, and has gaming at a harness track and an off shore gambling cruise operation.

You may have heard of the vote on March 13th that rejected a proposal to license one casino in New Hampshire with up to 5,000 video slot machines and 150 table games. The vote to kill the bill was 173 to 144 and Governor Maggie Hassan remains in favor of the one casino. What you didn’t read in the article is that their already is a vibrant gaming scene in NH with upwards of 9 licensed poker rooms in the Granite State operating daily. These rooms offer low limit poker and tournaments and even have blackjack and roulette. The caveat is that 35% of the poker room’s profits must be dedicated to a charity. Dozens of charitable organizations benefit from this, and there is a 5 year waiting list to get in on the action. The state also takes 13%. This is no small chunk of change. Rockingham Gaming LLC, which operates two of the poker rooms in Rockingham and Seabrook contributes nearly $2,000,000 yearly to charitable organizations and the state of NH. These rooms originated in 2006, and are regulated by the New Hampshire Racing & Charitable Gaming Commission.

All Star's client at a number of its Hollywood branded casinos in the mid-west, and owner/operators of 26 casinos and racinos across the U.S.; Penn Gaming announces groundbreaking for the lone Massachusetts slot parlor license.  This is Penn's second project in New England as they opened the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway in Bangor Maine in November of 2005 and was allowed to add table games in 2012.

It was reported today that it is highly unlikely that Massachusetts will become the 4th state to legalize online gaming, behind New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. In fact, I’d be surprised if it ever happens at all. And given Massachusetts’s track record over the past few years in trying to bring brick & mortar casinos to life in the Bay State, this is probably a good thing.

All Star Incentive Marketing was invited by Mohegan Sun to participate in its “Working at and Working With” series at events in Worcester on 4/10 and Palmer on 5/7.  In this community outreach event, representatives from Mohegan talked about various job opportunities and career paths and had employees from varied casino operations discuss their jobs.  Paul Suprenant, the head of purchasing for Mohegan Sun, talked about the $500MM they spend with local vendors, and introduced a couple Massachusetts based vendors to talk about their experiences working with Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.  Gary Galonek, a Principal and National Sales Manager for gaming operations at All Star talked in positive terms about working with Mohegan Sun.  He highlighted their desire to collaborate with their vendors, to value previous work done and not simply shop on price, and to consistently pay their bills in a timely matter.  More events are being scheduled in the run up to the MA Gaming Commission awarding the casino licenses in the coming year.

In the ever-changing gaming industry, it can be difficult to keep your players coming back. One of the best ways to create a memorable, positive gaming experience for your patrons is to host a Shopping Event.

When marketers, accountants, vice presidents and general managers ask exactly how much free play costs

You got it. Why it is important to plan your holiday shopping event NOW.