GAMING News
Benefits of the SKECHERS Direct Corporate Shoe Program
Are you tired of costly slip and falls? Are you frustrated with your current shoe program? The SKECHERS Direct Corporate Shoe Program is the answer! This program is cost-free with no minimum purchasing requirements or setup fees – your employees buy directly from SKECHERS and save! SKECHERS will put together a cust o m e c o m m e r c e s i t e a n d w i l l c u stomize the selection based on your casino’s uniform policy Your employees can purchase shoes online with free shipping and free returns or by shopping at any of the 500+ SKECHERS retail stores in the United States and Canada.
MingFeng: Turning Concepts Into Reality
MingFeng has become one of the top 100 national high-tech enterprises in China
Its mission is to turn incredible concepts into practical realities The company provides services for brands from more than 30 industries, including jewelry, spirit and beverage, commemorative coin, watch, cigar, cosmetic, electronics and healthrelated products
MingFeng’s industrial park covers an area of 230,000 square meters, with thousands of skilled staff who can handle an annual output of up to 80 million pieces Its new facility consolidates operations and maximizes efficiency to produce three times more than the current production capacity MingFeng continues to modernize and utilize the latest equipment and technology that applies to the manufacturing
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The Velvix Experience: G2E 2023 and Beyond
An interview with Chris Wieners, Managing Director, Velvix
GN: What trends in slot design and gameplay have you observed in the industry, and how has your company adapted to meet these trends?
CW: We’ve observed exciting new additions to the game design process, and we’re eager to incorporate customer-preferred features into our upcoming titles For instance, our Random Bonus features have generated enthusiasm as players encounter unexpected bonuses during gameplay Community features remain a player favorite, fostering social interaction BaoBao King, our inaugural link progressive game, remains a hit, thanks to its engaging community battle feature
ODDSworks Partners with PDX Slots with RGS to RGS Distribution Deal
ODDSworks, a leader in Remote Gaming Server technology and interactive content, renowned for its excellence in delivering top-tier gaming content and cutting-edge interactive technologies for regulated and real money gaming markets, announced it has taken a step to further establish its position as the key aggregator in North America by partnering with PDX Slots to distribute its content
Its comprehensive game portfolio spans proprietary and third-party titles, each boasting captivating themes, stellar graphics and engaging features With a team having nearly a century of combined gaming experience, ODDSworks is owned and operated by industry veterans who truly understand the gaming world and its players
Larry DeMar, President of ODDSworks, shared: “Teaming up with PDX Slots, a recognized leader in the igaming industry, marks a momentous leap forward for ODDSworks Our innovative gaming solutions are now poised to reach new
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8 Tips to Consider When Evaluating Your Tribal Casino’s Insurance Coverage
By Robert Dahl, Chief Operating Officer, AMERIND
1. Monitor Rising Premium Rates
Controlling expenses is pivotal for tribal casinos since more than half of operating costs are spent on payroll and e m p l o y e e b e n e f i t s G a m i n g e n t i t i e s can’t afford to ignore inflated insurance premium costs Some providers hike premiums annually, or automatically increase the values of the property being insured overtime – even for e q u i p m e n t t h a t ’ s n o l o n g e r o p e r ational Know exactly what you’re paying for and speak up if you’re being overcharged
2. Read the Fine Print for Exclusions
M a n y n o n - t r i b a l l y o w n e d i n s u r a n c e providers offer high blanket limits that m a y s e e m a p p e a l i n g i n i t i a l l y , u n t i l tribes read the fine print Blanket limits, like $1 billion worth of coverage, are generally subject to various terms and high deductibles Exclusions in insurance coverage can also prove detrimental to tribal governments and businesses that believe they’re covered for a catastrophe
3. Train and Encourage Workforce to Take Safety Seriously
C a s i n o s o f t e n h a v e e m p l o y e e s i n j u r e d o n t h e j o b Y o u r i n s u r e r s h o u l d p r o v i d e s a f e t y t r a i n i n g a n d
o n - s i t e i n s p e c t i o n s o f p r o p e r t y a n d e q u i p m e n t a t n o a d d i t i o n a l c o s t W o r k p l a c e s a f e t y e d u c a t i o n i s v i t a l ; y o u r i n s u r e r s h o u l d h e l p i n s t i l l a w o r k f o r c e c u l t u r e t h a t v a l u e s h o l i s t i c s a f e t y
4. Attract and Retain Employees with Competitive Benefits Benefits can enhance employees’ job satisfaction and may come into play if an employee is weighing the advantages of s e e k i n g w o r k e l s e w h e r e C o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d c o s te f f e c t i v e e m p l o y e e b e n e f i t s s o l u t i o n s s h o u l d i n c l u d e health, dental, vision, accident, short- and long-term disability, critical illness and more Your preferred insurance provider s h o u l d o f f e r a s t r e a m l i n e d enrollment system well as continuous representative involvement
5. Uphold Tribal Values S e l e c t a c o m p e t i t i v e T r i b a l W o r k e r s Compensation (TWC) program that provides medical, wage loss, permanent disability and death benefits that rivals state workers compensation – without sacrificing the tribe’s ability to determine its level of coverage Tribal gaming entities can avoid the fraud and abuse that’s prevalent in state systems through a sovereign TWC program
Acres Study Reveals Free Slot Play Costs Casinos $37 Billion in Annual Lost Profits
Acres Manufacturing Company, a leadi n g c a s i n o l o y a l t y a n d t e c h n o l o g y d e v e l o p e r , r e l e a s e d a n e w p o s i t i o n p a p e r a s p a r t o f i t s o n g o i n g s e r i e s exploring the expensive realities of current casino loyalty technology This new position paper details the $37 billion annual impact player loyalty reinvestment has on casinos’ profitability as a result of existing, antiquated legacy Casino Management System (“CMS”) technologies With 166 patents issued and hundreds more pending, Acres created its Foundation hardware and F o u n d a t i o n H Q C M S s p e c i f i c a l l y t o address this opportunity
Key highlights of Acres’ CMS loyalty program reinvestment position paper include:
many loyalty programs provide player reinvestment rates approaching or even exceeding 100% when exploited optimally, only maintaining profitability through breakage caused by unredeemed rewards or players that do not take full advantage of the program
• Casinos’ net reinvestment in player loyalty conservatively hovers above 35% – or roughly $25 billion – with free play being the largest single cost contributor
• Free play takes up a significant portion of available play time, eviscerating profitability on novice or timelimited players
• Including the time value of free play, net reinvestment balloons to over 50%, or more than $37 billion
• If free play was eliminated without an impact to loyalty, profitability of slot machine operations would more than double
“The casino industry’s continued reliance on free play to incentivize player loyalty is impacting industry slot profitability by more than $37 billion every year, with smaller casinos typically bearing a larger relative percentage of this impact,” said Noah Acres “The industry’s strategy of using free play to buy loyalty is completely misaligned with player preferences, as the potential to win is what truly drives loyalty, not free play By lever-
6. Implement a Return-to-Work Program I n t h e u n f o r t u n a t e e v e n t o f a n e m p l o y e e i n j u r y i n v o l v i n g l o s t t i m e f r o m w o r k , a n e f f e c t i v e r e t u r n - t ow o r k p r o g r a m c a n a i d i n t h e r e h a b i l it a t i o n a n d r e c o v e r y , c r e a t i n g a s m o o t h e r p r o c e s s f o r b o t h e m p l o y e r a n d e m p l o y e e
7. Identify Key Risks, Then Create an Insurance Plan
T r i b a l g a m i n g e n t i t i e s a r e n o t a o n es i z e - f i t s - a l l r i s k m o d e l T a l k t o a t r u s te d b r o k e r a b o u t y o u r t r i b a l b u s i n e s s ’ k e y r i s k s , a n d t h e n d e s i g n a n i n s u r a n c e p r o g r a m a r o u n d t h o s e r i s k s P r o p e r t y , l i a b i l i t y a n d w o r k e r s c o m p e n s a t i o n p o l ic i e s s h o u l d b e u n i q u e l y c r a f t e d t o p r o t e c t t r i b a l a s s e t s , w h i l e c o n s i d e r i n g c u l t u r a l p r e f e r e n c e s
8. Reevaluate Your Insurance Plan Regularly
The only real way for tribes to know if they are overpaying for the coverage they need is to shop around. There are a minimum of four workers compensation carriers serving tribal gaming entities. Get a new quote annually, or at the very least, every three years.
An AM Best A- (Excellent) rated company, AMERIND creates affordable, sustainable insurance products and servic-
aging our Foundation HQ CMS to replace free play with a gamified loyalty experience delivered in real-time as players spend their own money, casinos can exponentially grow revenues and profitability by modernizing their loyalty programs to eliminate massively scale and entertain new players rather than giving away expensive and underappreciated free play entitlements As our series of position papers highlights, Foundation HQ’s modern technology can empower casino operators of all sizes to significantly increase revenue and lower costs by helping to scale enrollment and rethink player reinvestment strategies, thereby making player loyalty significantly more profitable ”
About Acres
Acres is a leading casino loyalty and technology expert and the creator of Foundation™, the first-of-its-kind casino management system Foundation provides casinos with real-time data from slot machines and a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine Acres was founded by John Acres, the inventor of casino systems technology
es for Indian Country
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www
BetConstruct Announces Thrilling Game Integrations into Land Based Solutions
Three major game providers, Golden Race, Creedroomz and Pascal Gaming, bring thrilling games to land-based solutions.
The integration of highly anticipated games from these top providers i n t o B e t C o n s t r u c t ’ s L a n d B a s e d S o l u t i o n s w i l l b e a n u n p a r a l l e l e d opportunity for partners and operators to elevate their offerings and boost their revenue significantly
Within the centralized location for all games and streams, coupled with an intuitive interface, the company has revolutionized gaming in betshops –eliminating complex report and content management processes and providing hassle-free betting experiences
BetConstruct keeps the iGaming business ahead of the curve and offers the players dynamic solutions with its latest integrations
Zitro Unveils New Slot Game
Epic Kingdom
B y P e r l a C o p e r , M a r k e t i n g Communications Specialist, Zitro Zitro, a leading casino supplier, has u n v e i l e d i t s h i g h l y a n t i c i p a t e d s l o t game, Epic Kingdom. This slot title, featured on the premium Altius Glare cabinet, boasts stunning 4K graphics and immersive visuals that are sure to captivate players from the moment they start spinning the reels.
In Epic Kingdom, the key to unlocking the ultimate treasure lies in the Bonus Link feature. By landing four or
SKECHERS (Cont’d. from p. 1)
“This cost-free program has some incredible benefits and will provide your employees with a substantial discount on safe, comfortable and durable t r e n d - r i g h t f o o t w e a r r e s u l t i n g i n improved worker safety, morale and overall efficiency,” says National Sales Manager Harold Surabian.
The SKECHERS Direct program is a v a i l a b l e t o c a s i n o s a n d p r o p e r t i e s
where players can instantly purchase b o n u s e s , e l i m i n a t i n g w a i t i n g t i m e s T h e s e i n n o v a t i o n s a r e s h a p i n g o u r game development as we explore fresh themes
GN: What are the key challenges you face as a new slot manufacturer?
CW: As newcomers, we encounter two primary challenges Firstly, establishing our brand awareness Since our launch three years ago, we’ve been investing time and effort to gain recognition and pique operators’ interest, a common task for startups Participating in annual events like G2E and IGA has been instrumental, as has our dedication to meet-
more link symbols or mystery symbols, players gain access to the three-level Bonus Link As you progress through each level, the excitement builds, leading you to the final level where you have the chance to win the MEGA jackpot with just a single mega symbol
W i t h 2 4 3 w a y s t o w i n , E p i c Kingdom offers ample opportunities to boost your winnings and elevate player engagement But that’s not all – this slot title also includes themed features such as Free Games and Extended Wild Multiplier, adding to the overall gam-
with 200 or more employees and who a r e b a s e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o r Canada. The program offers employees a year-round 30 percent discount on S K E C H E R S s l i p - r e s i s t a n t w o r k s h o e s and safety toe footwear. All SKECHERS slip-resistant work shoes are tested to meet or exceed industry standards.
Included in the program is SKECHERS $5,000 slip-and-fall warranty that helps protect your company from costly slip and falls. In addition, employees
ing customers in our current markets
A n o t h e r c h a l l e n g e w e g r a p p l e with is securing a dependable workforce Given California’s size and our commitment to serving customers of all sizes and locations, we’re actively seeking skilled team members, including technicians, across the state In other markets like Oklahoma, we’ve f o s t e r e d p a r t n e r s h i p s , a n d i n M i n n e s o t a , w e ’ v e o n b o a r d e d n e w team members to facilitate business expansion Our management team is d e d i c a t e d t o e n s u r i n g o p e r a t i o n a l readiness before venturing into new markets, ensuring our clients’ success when they adopt our games
i n g e x p e r i e n c e T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e g a m e ’ s s e a m l e s s gameplay mechanics and visually stunning
g r a p h i c s , c r e a t e s a truly immersive world w h e r e e v e r y s p i n holds the promise of big wins and thrilling adventures With Epic
K i n g d o m , Z i t r o c o ntinues to push boundaries of innovation in the gaming industry, delivering a game that combines cutting-edge technology with an engaging narrative Z i t r o ’ s c o m m i t m e n t t o c r e a t i n g incredible gaming experiences is evi-
will benefit from SKECHERS quarterly
f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y d a y s e v e n t s o n shoes for the entire family, including k i d s ’ s h o e s , w a l k i n g s h o e s , r u n n i n g shoes and more (30 percent off on more than 3,000 styles).
You may also offer your employees a payroll deduction program for their shoe purchases, which would enable them to spread the cost of their shoes over multiple paychecks. This part of the program is entirely optional for the
ences your product design?
CW: We highly value player and operator feedback During our installation p r o c e s s , w e a c t i v e l y c o l l e c t p l a y e r input Often, we have not just sales representatives but members of our game design team on-site to observe and e n g a g e w i t h p l a y e r s ( w i t h o p e r a t o r consent) to gather valuable feedback I n t e g r a t i n g t h i s f e e d b a c k i n t o o u r design process is crucial Despite our brief history, we’ve already fine-tuned and re-released games based on player input Our agility enables us to make rapid adjustments, ultimately aiding our clients in offering fresh, enjoyable games
dent in the attention to detail found i n E p i c K i n g d o m
From the stunning visuals to the captiv a t i n g s o u n d t r a c k , every aspect of the g a m e h a s b e e n c a r e f u l l y d e s i g n e d to transport players to a world of fantasy and excitement
Immersive yourself in the world of Epic Kingdom, and don’t miss out on this epic gaming experience
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o www zitrogames com or stop by booth #4449
employer and you need not offer a payr o l l d e d u c t i o n p l a n t o e n a b l e y o u r employees to enjoy all of the other b e n e f i t s o f t h e S K E C H E R S D i r e c t Corporate Shoe Program.
The SKECHERS Direct program also provides mobile truck visits to your properties in Las Vegas, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Mississippi.
For more information, call 855.759.7463 or email info@skechersdirect.com.
tions or demonstrations visitors can expect from your booth at G2E?
CW: Our complete team, from sales to game design leadership, will attend to incorporate customer feedback directly into our games Who better to understand our games than their creators? We’re unveiling three brand-new titles t h i s y e a r , i n c l u d i n g a H a l l o w e e nt h e m e d g a m e c a l l e d S c r e a m i n g Mansion To celebrate its launch, we'll h o s t d a i l y l e a d e r b o a r d s l o t t o u r n aments with exciting prizes, including giant chocolates and Halloween treats Check out our booth – just look for the giant skeleton!
MingFeng (Cont’d from p 1)
GN: Can you share insights into the player experience and how it influ-
GN: Are there any special presenta-
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o www velvix com or stop by booth #2416 p r o c e s s I t s d e d i c a t e d w o r k f o r c e a s s u r e s t h a t c u s t o m e r s w i l l r e c e i v e p r o d u c t s a t t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i t y , o n schedule and at competitive pricing
The company believes in the great environmental importance of the plan-
et and sustainable human development In 2013, MingFeng formed the B i o m a s s T e c h n o l o g y C o m p a n y T h i s division specializes in the research and development of biomass composites and its applications The biomass composites aim at taking full advantage of the abundant forestry residues from
the agriculture industry, such as straw, rice husks and wood pulps MingFeng t h e n u s e s m o d i f i e d f o r m u l a d e s i g n combined with upgraded professional equipment to produce different types of biomass composites, which are then e x t r u d e d a n d m o l d e d i n t o u s e f u l , everyday commodities
MingFeng is eager to bring clients the latest trends in packaging products and materials, helping with creating innovative designs and offering support with its dedicated and trusted teams
tion in the gaming industry and our d e d i c a t i o n t o p r o v i d i n g e x c e p t i o n a l content is clear This integration repres e n t s a s i g n i f i c a n t l e a p f o r w a r d f o r both companies
About ODDSworks A l e a d e r i n R e m o t e G a m i n g S e r v e r t e c h n o l o g y a n d i n t e r a c t i v e c o n t e n t , ODDSworks specializes in delivering world-class gaming content and besti n - c l a s s i n t e r a c t i v e t e c h n o l o g i e s f o r
regulated and real money gaming mark e t s T h e B E T g u a r d ™ R G S p l a t f o r m processes over $2 billion annually in wagering and is approved in all key N o r t h A m e r i c a n j u r i s d i c t i o n s I t w i l l power the ODDSworks games as they expand with each new market opening ODDSworks plans to integrate with many major online casinos and provide t h e i r u n i q u e , m a r k e t - p r o v e n g a m e library to operators
T h e O D D S w o r k s g a m e p o r t f o l i o
includes a versatile range of proprietary and third-party titles, each featuring a unique and engaging theme enhanced with stellar graphics, sounds and features ODDSworks team brings almost 100 years of gaming experience to the table ODDSworks is owned and operate d b y g a m i n g p r o s w h o k n o w t h e industry and its players inside and out F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o w w w oddsworks com
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o www mingfengus com h o r i z o n s , p r o v i d i n g p l a y e r s w i t h a n unparalleled gaming experience ” C h r i s H o u s e l , C h i e f E x e c u t i v e Officer of PDX Slots, stated, “We are thrilled to be ODDSworks' first RGS-RGS integration, instantly expanding our r e a c h t o o p e r a t o r s O u r g o a l i s t o achieve 100% coverage in the markets we operate in The synergy between ODDSworks' well-established reputa-
