Casino Enterprise Management

Well it ain’t a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. It’s something a lot more magical that that. After facing three-plus long years of devastating hardship in the gaming economy, the fiery engines of American capitalism have done just what they are designed to do: Seek out a way to let growth and prosperity flourish. And while I can’t bring myself to be thankful for the difficult economy, I can say I’m thankful that a new attitude about it has emerged as a result.

I love fine dining, and those of you who have ever met me in person know I’m telling you the truth when I talk about my passion for gourmet cuisine. That’s one area in life where New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie and I are kindred spirits. We are both obviously connoisseurs of exceptional foods, and a lot of it. Unfortunately today, many casinos are so caught up in marketing technology that they have let go of the focus on personal relationships that Las Vegas was built on.

Next month, Casino Enterprise Management will have been in the business of bringing you, our esteemed reader, timely news reporting, quality content and gaming industry insight worthy of your investment in time for nine years. Many things have changed in the gaming industry since we first hit the street, and many things have changed in the way we cover the news and how we deliver it to you.

My expectations for this year’s G2E were low—very low. I wasn’t at all happy about the new venue. While staying on the Strip as in previous years wasn’t going to make getting there any harder, I just had an uncomfortable feeling about it. As day one came and went, I was convinced my earlier assumptions were spot on. I had been late to four of my first eight appointments.

Membership to the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers is really a no-brainer if you are in the business of supplying goods and services to the casino industry anywhere worldwide. Now 111 members strong, it’s obvious that AGEM serves not just the largest and most global of gaming suppliers in the gaming business, but smaller and more regional companies, too.

This high-speed downhill, uphill and sideways crazy economic rollercoaster ride from hell that began for us all back in 2008 continues today and is wearing me out. It’s mostly the economy getting me down, but not entirely. I’m sick to death of these ridiculous and needless wars. They are stealing our treasures and robbing us of our precious young. The political blame game we hear coming non-stop from Washington is really shallow and pathetic.

With the debt ceiling deadline looming, we need to ask ourselves some serious questions, but first we need to take a look at how a U.S. government default might affect the gaming industry.

The infamous Sherlock Holmes and his loyal confidant Dr. Watson had just solved a grueling case. Both were exhausted, so they decided to take a trip to the English countryside for a camping outing and some much needed rest and relaxation. After setting up camp, they sat down by the fire to eat a wonderful meal and indulge in a rare vintage bottle of wine.

When I learned that Sheldon Adelson had accepted our request to feature him on the cover of our June issue, I was pleased and honored. I have been a big fan of Adelson since the early days of COMDEX. Now, the quintessential entrepreneur leading Las Vegas Sands has impacted the world in many positive and significant ways.

As gas prices in the United States rose to historic levels in 2008, the gears on the machine of the U.S. economy began to seize. In reaction to the much higher cost of doing business, American companies began changing the way they operated. As a result, the gaming and hospitality industries took a big one to the chin.