Gaming America Magazine

Mar/Apr 2020

Editors Letter

At the end of ICE London, it feels strange to say the busiest period of our gaming calendar is yet to come. But, in the US, that's very much the case, as we look forward to the National Indian Gaming Association trade show (24-27 March), with a view towards the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association trade show (27-29 July) and, of course, G2E in October. As far away as that mammoth show is, preparations will have already begun in earnest, which is equally the case for the Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas (see our round-up on the latest state of play on p8).

There was, of course, a more European-centric focus at ICE. Many US companies still made the trip however, and we caught up with the likes of Gaming Arts (p50) and Lightning Box (p52) at the show. American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller was also on hand to offer his expertise on all things gaming regulation and you can read his thoughts in our in-depth catch up with him in this magazine (p30).

Ahead of NIGA, there is naturally a heavy focus on tribal gaming and it's a theme that has come up in several of our interviews. More specifically, we have previewed the event itself (p40) and covered a tribal gaming conference from the ICE agenda (p28).

Inevitably, plenty has happened within US gaming since our last Gaming America publication and change has been rife within the industry. MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren is stepping down after 12 years in his role and Tim Poole assesses his legacy in his From the top column (p6). We would also be remiss not to mention MGM's recent property sales, which are the subject of our cover feature from Sean Chaffin (p10), and is also touched on in an extremely informative feature from Oliver Lovat (p14).

Elsewhere, we consider some of US gaming's most pressing current issues: tax rates (p28), advertising (p34) and sports betting monopolization (p18). In a Gaming America first, we also address the issue of advertising in the form of a team debate, as Tim Poole, Owain Flanders and Iqbal Johal consider whether an over-use of sponsorship and advertising in sports betting could be something the US sector comes to regret.

As you can see, there has been an abundance of content for us to sink our teeth into while putting this publication together. Whether you're reading this at NIGA or in the comfort of your own home, we hope you'll enjoy getting your teeth into consuming the result.

In The Magazine

Identifying Guest Trends

Eric Cunningham, Training and Marketing Manager of casino management system supplier Table Trac, Inc., explains how today's analytics can answer questions casino operators will be asking themselves; this article was originally published in the March/April edition of Gaming America magazine.

Watering The Flowers

Andrew Burke, recently appointed CEO of Bluberi, speaks with Gaming America about his vision for the gaming supplier; this interview was originally published in the March/April edition of Gaming America magazine.

Tribal Innovation And Sustainability

Gaming Arts President Mike Dreitzer spoke to Tim Poole about tribal gaming at ICE London. This interview was originally published in Gaming America March/April.

The Importance Of Class Ii Gaming

Russell Witt, Director of Central Determinate Gaming at Incredible Technologies, explains why he believes class II gaming is more important than ever. This article was originally published in the March/April edition of Gaming America.

Should Adverts Call Out Offshore Operators?

Tim Poole proposes an aggressive advertizing strategy to highlight the threats posed to players by illegal gaming operators. This article was originally published in the March/April edition of Gaming America.

An Undervalued Hand

Tim Poole caught up with American Gaming Association (AGA) president and CEO Bill Miller at ICE London, for a broad discussion on state-by-state regulation, mobile wagering and public sentiment. This interview was conducted before the coronavirus pandemic.

Debate: Will Us Sports Betting Advertising Have A Negative Impact?

Owain Flanders, Iqbal Johal and Tim Poole put forward their arguments as to whether increased gambling sponsorship in US sports might have a negative impact on public opinion towards the industry. This article was first published in the March/April edition of Gaming America.

States Versus Tribes?

Across the US, tribal gaming is a $33.7bn industry with 460 gaming establishments, operated by 240 federally recognized tribes in 29 states. A panel at this year’s ICE London discussed tribal gaming’s route into sports betting and the hurdles it faces.

Is Political Betting Good For Business?

Before the coronavirus pandemic, 888 Holdings SVP, head of commercial development Yaniv Sherman spoke to Ezra Amacher about political betting within the US.

Making The Most Of March Madness

Ezra Amacher looks into the betting intricacies of March Madness, one of the busiest weeks on the US sports betting calendar. This feature was written before the coronavirus pandemic and, at this point, provides useful forward-looking analysis should March Madness return in 2021.

From Teamsters To Titans

Oliver Lovat on how Las Vegas casino financing has evolved from the backroom to the boardroom, and how REITs have changed operators' strategy

Tenant And Landlord

Sean Chaffin reports on MGM Resorts' sale and leaseback strategy with some of its biggest properties, and whether this is likely to continue.

Ahead Of The Game

Cathryn Lai, SVP Product Management and Product Marketing at Scientific Games, speaks to Gaming America about gaming innovation and the supplier’s plans for 2020. This interview was conducted before the coronavirus pandemic.

From The Top: Japan, Jim Murren’s Lasting Legacy

Tim Poole assesses Jim Murren's legacy after his departure from MGM Resorts International.

Sports Betting Monopolization And The Case Of Dc

Gaming America takes a look at monopolization in the US sports betting market and speaks with Newgioco CEO Michele Ciavarella for his opinion on the topic

New Games; New Territories

Lightning Box Account Manager Mike Lally and Operations Manager Michael Maokhamphiou talk Gaming America through the company's plans for 2020. This interview took place at ICE London and was originally published in the March/April edition of Gaming America magazine.