Casino Enterprise Management

As the first elected tribal council chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, Lynn Malerba is leading her people during the most tumultuous and challenging economy since the tribe was federally recognized some 16 years ago. I met with Lynn to talk with her about her October election, her feelings about being the first woman to lead Mohegan’s tribal council, and her plans for the tribe and their enterprises.

Server-based gaming in 2010 begins a new direction for gaming operators. A panel of industry experts driving the development of server-based gathered for a roundtable discussion. These high-profile slot operators discussed everything from what they expect out of SBG to how it affects the technicians’ job, regulation to standards, what they want from manufacturers and the future. The conversation was extremely insightful and one everybody in the industry needs to listen to.

Sustainability is not a new idea. In fact it is one of the oldest of mankind. Green architecture—sustainable buildings—does not suggest that we go backward to a simpler lifestyle, but move forward to a smarter paradigm based on the knowledge and technology of today and the yet undiscovered advances we can encourage and anticipate in the future.

These feature articles discussed the importance of the casino industry going green and what architects and construction firms are doing that’s environmentally responsible and sustainable. But gaming manufacturers are going green, too. CEM asked some of gaming’s major manufacturers to weigh in and share their sustainability plans and goals.

Like a gold medalist setting new records at the Olympics, CityCenter has raised the bar for the greening of the hospitality and gaming industry with its six LEED Gold certifications. Las Vegas’ newest and largest hospitality project ranks among the world’s—that’s right, world’s—largest environmentally sustainable developments.

If test labs are the gateway to gaming for equipment manufacturers, then the quality of service and measurable results that those labs provide is critical to both the integrity and the performance of the industry. There is no doubt that regulatory authorities and patrons depend on the accuracy, quality and integrity of those labs. But how are “accuracy,” “quality” and “integrity” defined? How are they measured?

We are all well aware of the economic woes that this country faced in 2009, but here’s a quick refresher for those of you who may have been hiding in your corner office with your eyes squeezed shut and your fingers in your ears for the past 12-plus months. One of the biggest revelations was that, contrary to the common wisdom, gaming is not recession-proof.

It doesn’t take an Einstein to recognize that these are strange times in gaming. And it doesn’t take an Einstein to realize why: increased competition, overleveraged properties, tight consumer spending and, um, the Great Recession. With declining revenues for the first time ever and even stagnant business considered a blessing, the casino industry in the United States is facing, if not a crisis, at least a wake-up call.

Being a member of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) sure has its advantages. From a united voice to an inside scoop, the advantages of AGEM membership are far from few and far between. Learn the latest from within the association’s ranks in these company profiles and G2E previews.

This third and final 2009 installment of CEM’s Networked Gaming Guide addresses one of the most important issues to consider before taking the plunge into server-based gaming: What’s in it for the players? How will networked gaming affect the player’s experience? And how do we get players to “buy-in” to the new capabilities of the networked floor? Read on as industry professionals weigh in on these questions and more.