Gaming News @ IGA 24 • April 11, 2024

Customized and Competitive Worker’s Compensation for Casinos BOOTH #604

By Tina Duncan, Director of Business Development, AMERIND

Tribal gaming entities have many considerations when protecting property, employees and covering liability exposures, especially since they are not a one-size-fits-all risk model Casinos need to work with a trusted broker on key risks and design an insurance program around those risks Property, liability, commercial auto and workers’ compensation policies should be uniquely crafted to protect tribal assets, while 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 A T r i b a l W o r k e r s ’ Compensation (TWC) program should be selected without sacrificing the 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. There are several worker’s compensation carriers serving tribal gaming entities, so your broker should provide multiple options to ensure you aren’t paying too much. It’s a best practice to get a new quote annually.

AMERIND’s Tribal Workers Compensation Program

AMERIND’s Tribal Worker’s Compensation product is an alternative to state

Interior Announces $72 Million to Electrify Homes Across Indian Country with

Clean Energy

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has announced $72 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help tribal communities

homes This investment from the Inflation Reduction Act – the

Step into the Year of the Dragon with Velvix

Up and coming slots manufacturer Velvix is starting the year strong with the a n n o u n c e m e n t o f s e v e n n e w g a m e t i t l e s a t t h i s y e a r ’ s I G A c o n f e r e n c e

Incorporating some of the most popular game mechanics as voted by players, the company has developed a range of titles that integrate new and exciting innovations with traditional game aspects that players love

The latest titles available to try at this y e a r ’ s s h o w i n c l u d e P h a r o a h ’ s G o l d , B r i d g e B e y o n d , S c o r c h i n g M i l l i o n , Screaming Mansion and Shimmy for the Money

Playing on themes that are proven winners with players, Velvix has recently announced a shift to its game content strategy, earning the hearts (and wallet share) of players on floors across their existing casino footprint.

Fiona Leung, Game Design Director for Velvix stated, “Our initial strategy was based purely on innovation. We wanted to build cutting edge games that offered

Choctaw Nation Signs iGaming Deal

Choctaw

Slot Machines Market Report 2024

Predicts Continued Growth

According to the “Slot Machines Global Market Report 2024,” growth in the global slot machines market is expected to continue its upward trajectory, as a new market report indicates a projected expansion to $3.63 billion by 2028. This compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% follows a solid historical period buoyed by innovations in g a m e d e s i g n , r e g u l a t o r y e v o l u t i o n s and increased consumer demand for entertainment sources.

Technological Innovations

Paving the Way for Slot Machine Market Expansion

A significant theme revealed in the report is the influence of technological a d v a n c e m e n t s o n t h e g l o b a l s l o t machines market. Innovations in game

features and the adoption of advanced technologies have been pivotal Efforts by key industry players to integrate new technology into traditional slot machines aim to meet the preferences of a technology-savvy consumer base.

The recent launch of digital payment technologies for slot machines has spearheaded a trend towards cashless, more secure and convenient gaming experiences. Enhanced loyalty programs and the potential of blockchain technology for transparency are addit i o n a l a s p e c t s a m p l i f y i n g m a r k e t growth.

Themed Slot Machines: A New Era of Gaming

In response to the diversifying tastes of gamers, major players in the market

have been concentrating on themed slot machines These unique offerings cater to a variety of interests, potentially attracting a wider audience to the gaming floors The first official emojib r a n d e d s l o t m a c h i n e b y A r i s t o c r a t Leisure Limited is one such innovation

t h a t e x e m p l i f i e s t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f familiar and popular cultural symbols into gaming

Regional Insights: North America

Dominates the Market Landscape

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o m p r e h e n s i v e r e p o r t , N o r t h A m e r i c a r e m a i n s t h e leading region in the slot machines market, with countries like the United States and Canada significantly contributing to the industry’s revenues

T h e r e p o r t e l u c i d a t e s h o w v a r i o u s r e g i o n s , i n c l u d i n g A s i aPacific and Western Europe, are also poised to contribute to the overall market expansion

• Reel Slot Machines: Preferred for the traditional gaming experience

• Video Slot Machines: Favoring digital displays for enhanced engagement

• M u l t i - D e n o m i n a t i o n S l o t Machines: Offering flexibility to gamers

The types of slot machines available define the scope of experiences offered to users, accommodating the diverse preferences of casino visitors a n d g a m e r s . T h e r e p o r t d e t a i l s t h e growth avenues and strategic outlook for each segment.

The active presence of game technolog y c o r p o r a t i o n s , s u c h a s K o n a m i G a m i n g a n d I G T , i s a l s o e x a m i n e d , highlighting their role in shaping market trends. The slot machines market study offers a thorough understanding

of the sales from pay tables, coin trays, l e v e r s , p l a y b u t t o n s a n d s p i n r e e l s , d e l i v e r i n g i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e ‘ f a c t o r y gate’ values essential for market analysis. Only the revenues generated within the industry are accounted for, offering a true reflection of market values.

Light & Wonder Secures Third-Party Provider Agreement With RubyPlay

d s p r o g r a m i s p r od u c e d b y E i l e r s & K r e j c i k G a m i n g ( E K G ) a n d r e c o gnizes excellence in slot game development in the casino gaming industry

I G T ’ s p o p u l a r S u p e r H o t R o l l ™ poker game won the “Top Performing V i d e o P o k e r G a m e ” d i s t i n c t i o n a n d continued the company’s six-year winning streak of the category, while IGT PlayDigital’s Multihand Blackjack Poker & Pairs game won “Top Performing New Online Table Game.”

“IGT winning multiple categories at the 2024 EKG Slot Awards Show is a

terrific honor that exemplifies the company’s commitment to excellence and performance across our omnichannel game portfolio,” said Nick Khin, IGT C h i e f O p e r a t i n g O f

Lamp captur-

the title of ‘Top

reinforces our leadership in quality premium content, momentum in the MLP

p a c e a n

game design teams ”

IGT’s Mystery of the Lamp game debuted in 2023 as the launch title for t h e c o

PeakCurve49 cabinet With a distinctive, vibrant art package and persistence mechanics, IGT has approximately 1,500 Mystery of the Lamp games in casinos across North America.

Light & Wonder has announced a new

includes exclusive aggregation for the U S iGaming market

The new agreement grants Light & Wonder’s operator network access to

recently gained significant traction for the dynamic provider The innovative Immortal Ways mechanic gives players 10,000 ways to win and includes two Immortal Arrays across the four middle reels to heighten excitement, as well as bonus wheels that could award multipliers and fixed jackpots The series has spawned several releases for the studio, including two of its best-performing titles to date – Immortal Ways: D i a m o n d s ™ a n d I m m o r t a l W a y s : Buffalo™

RubyPlay has over 100 slots in its p o r t f o l i o i n c l u d i n g i t s h i t D i a m o n d Explosion series, which is also set to launch across Light & Wonder’s global operator network

“RubyPlay has developed a stellar r e p u t a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p i n g f o r w a r dthinking gaming experiences and we are delighted to bring its high-quality content to an even wider reach on our g l o b a l n e t w o r k , ” s a i d S t e v e M a y e s , Senior Director Digital Partnerships at Light & Wonder “Elevating emerging studios is a top priority for us and we a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y e x c i t e d t o b e

RubyPlay’s exclusive aggregator in the U S w h e r e w e a n t i c i p a t e a g r e a t response to its dynamic content ”

“Light & Wonder has a vast reach in terms of markets, particularly in North A m e r i c a , w h i c h i s a p e r f e c t f i t f o r

RubyPlay’s strategy of focusing on regulated markets,” said Dr Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay “We are thrilled to be integrating our next-level content onto Light & Wonder’s platform, allowing significantly more players around the world to enjoy our cutting-edge slots.”

Leech Lake Gaming, QCI Enter Three-Year Strategic Partnership

Leech Lake Gaming and Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) have announced a t h r e e - y e a r s t r a t e g i c p a r t n e r s h i p , including a comprehensive software deployment of QCI’s products Leech L a k e G a m i n g ’ s t e a m i s a c t i v e l y engaged in training sessions, gearing up for an official launch scheduled for mid-December The new platform is poised to elevate operational efficiency and optimize se i quality

“We at Leech Lake Gaming are thrilled to e m b a r k o n t h i s groundbreaking journ e y a l o n g s i d e Q C I , ” said Michael Michaud, Chief Executive Officer of Leech Lake Gaming “ T h e Q C I p l a t f o r m i s game-changer for our host and slot departments and we believe it will not only streamline our operations, but also elevate the standard of service and entertainment we offer to our cheri s h e d g u e s t s . W i t h Q C I ’ s i n n o v a t i v e solutions, we are confident that we will deliver an unmatched gaming experience in the northern Minnesota market. This partnership aligns seamlessly with our dedication to excellence and innovation.”

Executive Officer of QCI

“Our collaboration with Leech Lake Gaming exemplifies such a relationship We have b e e n p r o f o u n d l y i m p r e s s e d b y t h e dedication, passion for excellence and unyielding commitment to enhancing g u e s t e x p e r i e n c e s e x h i b i t e d b y t h e

Leech Lake Gaming team I am proud a n d e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e j o u r n e y that lies ahead and confident that, t ther, we will establish new andards within the northern Minnesota market ”

“At QCI, we highly value partnerships grounded in mutual respect, a shared vision and unwavering commitm e n t , ” s a i d R a l p h T h o m a s , C h i e f

T h e L e e c h L a k e G a m i n g A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o v e r s e e s f o u r g a m i n g facilities that are owned a n d o p e r a t e d b y t h e L e e c h L a k e B a n d o f O j i b w e . N o r t h e r n L i g h t s ino Hotel offers over 750 s l o t m a c h i n e s , b l a c k j a c k a n d poker, three dining venues, Cabaret lounge, gift shop, 10,700 square foot e v e n t c e n t e r a n d 1 0 5 h o t e l rooms. Cedar Lakes Casino & Hotel f e a t u r e s o v e r 6 5 0 s l o t m a c h i n e s , blackjack and poker, four dining venu e s , t h e S a n d B a r , g i f t s h o p , 4 , 9 0 0 s q u a r e f o o t e v e n t c e n t e r a n d 1 0 0 hotel rooms. White Oak Casino offers o v e r 3 5 0 s l o t m a c h i n e s , b l a c k j a c k , snack bar, gift shop and is within minutes of area hotels. Shingobee on the Bay overlooks Leech Lake and offers a variety dining options, pull tabs and slot machines.

Sky River Casino Partners with San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Sky River Casino has partnered with t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o M u n i c i p a l Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for an exclusive marketing campaign at the Central Subway Chinatown-Rose Pak Station

The extensive campaign features a l a r g e r - t h a n - l i f e v i d e o w a l l , l a r g e wallscape banner, floor graphics and digital platforms across all three metro stations The various creatives will continue to immerse commuters traveling to and from these stations with Sky River Casino’s offerings and messaging in the coming months The visual f e a t u r e s a r o a r i n g g o l d e n d r a g o n a g a i n s t e a r t h t o n e b a c k g r o u n d s T h e

Chinatown-Rose Pak Station features a giant floor graphic of the golden dragon, which i s d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e p a r t s located on the entrance and t r a i n l e v e l s . I n a d d i t i o n t o

E n g l i s h , t h e s e a r e a l s o d e l i v e r e d i n Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean

Opened in January of 2023, the Central Subway Chinatown-Rose Pak Station is located at the historic hub of the city’s largest and most dynamic Asian community With a monthly ride r s h i p a v e r a g e o f 2 , 1 2 1 , 1 3 5 , t h e Chinatown station is the busiest and most used station of all three, which includes Union Square/Market Street, and Yerba Beuna/Moscone Center

Report Shows Non-Gaming Amenities Key to Casino Growth, Loyalty

A new study has been released by LaneTerralever entitled, “2024 Casino

with Anthony F Lucas, professor at UNLV’s College of Hospitality, the study measured the opinions of respondents a g e s 2

offerings of both local and destination casinos and how they impact their loyalty to the properties they choose Key findings include:

Non-Gaming Most Vital to Millennials/Gen Z; Still Important to Boomers/Gen X Notably, 83 9% of Millennials and 80 5% of Gen Z indicated non-gaming activities – such as restaurants and bars, live entertainment, hotel amenities, etc –significantly impacted their decisionmaking process when choosing a local c a s i n o W h i l e s t i l l s i g n i f i c a n t , t h o s e numbers were smaller for older demographics, including 65 3% of Boomers and 76 1% of Gen X reporting non-gaming offerings had a significant impact

All Generations Budgeting Time and Money for Non-Gaming

Across all generations, it was found that around 20% of their time is spent doing something other than playing with nongaming activities, something they specifically budgeted for – Millennials lead that group at 68% Restaurants/bars were the top non-gaming activity mentioned for local casinos at 40 9%, followed by live entertainment at 23 2% and hotel amenities at 16%

Visiting with Groups has Become Increasingly Important

The “group visit” to casinos is seen as

80%

people visiting local casinos in groups and 87% of destination c

70% of casino-goers say nongaming offerings are more important when they visit with family and friends

Affluent Players are a Unique Segment, Value Non-Gaming Activities

Affluent visitors will likely spend 50% of their time on non-gaming activities during a single trip to a destination casino, meaning they prioritize non-gaming offerings more than the average player They consider live entertainment most important, with 27 2% of affluent players ranking it as their top non-gaming offering compared to 20% of non-affluent

Hard Rock Leading Competition Among Non-Gaming Offerings

When asked which destination casino brand has the best non-gaming offerings, 21 1% chose Hard Rock Hotel & Casino MGM Resorts International, at 20 1%, was a close second, followed by Caesars Entertainment at 13 8%

Non-Gaming and Customer Experience Offer Opportunity to Build Deeper Relationship with Players

When it comes to fostering loyalty among players, non-gaming offerings once again ranked prominently among younger demographics with 69 3% of Millennials and 65 7% of Gen Z saying non-gaming features have at least some impact on their loyalty to local casinos In comparison, just 56 9% of Boomers and 61 3% of Gen X scored this as important In addition, customer experience was identified as a top way to build loyalty with 89% of casino-goers saying good customer experience can lead them to choose a smaller casino over a larger brand

Opportunities to Entice Online Bettors to Visit In-Person

Gauging the prevalence of online versus in-person wagering within the context of age groups, 73% of Gen Z and Millennials indicated they’ve placed a bet online When the topic turned to inperson wagers, the responses effectively flipped, with 79% of Boomers stating they’ve placed a bet at a brick-and-mortar establishment – a significantly higher proportion than Gen Z and Millennials

Soaring Eagle Installs Sports Ticker at Ascend Sports Book

Ascend Sports Book at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort has installed a new L E D s p o r t s t i c k e r f r o m J C M G l o b a l (JCM) Stretching more than 48 feet at the sportsbook’s entrance, the ticker allows guests to keep up on all the scores from their favorite teams, even

AMERIND (Cont’d from p 1)

programs and empowers tribal entities to take full control of their workers’ compensation program The AMERIND W o r k e r ’ s C o m p e n s a t i o n p r o g r a m maintains the Tribe’s sovereignty and is tailored to offer maximum effectiven e s s w h i l e r e d u c i n g o v e r a l l c l a i m expenses The product is customized, c o m p e t i t i v e l y p r i c e d a n d r e l i a b l e Insuring through AMERIND eliminates the need to comply with state law Similar to state workers’ compensation p r o g r a m s , b e n e f i t s i n c l u d e m e d i c a l expenses, lost wages, death benefits and disability benefits AMERIND provides online access to real-time claim

Velvix (Cont’d. from p. 1)

features the market hasn’t really seen before We still believe in that philosophy – but also understand that for playe r s , w e a r e n ’ t r e a l l y a n e s t a b l i s h e d brand yet We plan on building a solid mix of games that integrate features players know and love, but also take it a step beyond with quality graphics and the integration of new features that introduce players to our game styles Innovation is still key, but so is

Interior (Cont’d. from p. 1)

home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems The program will also support clean energy workforce development opportunities in Indian Country “ E v e r y h o m e d e s e r v e s t o h a v e access to reliable, affordable electricity – and now, with historic investments f r o m P r e s i d e n t B i d e n ’ s I n v e s t i n g i n America agenda, we’re bringing muchneeded resources to Indian Country to electrify homes with abundant clean energy sources,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “As we implement this new and innovative program, we will continue to support tribal communities as they work to develop their electricity i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d h e l p m e e t o u r

Choctaw Nation (Cont’d from p 1)

solutions with our brand and market positioning, Choctaw Nation will be optimally positioned to achieve signifi c a n t s c a l e a n d c a p t u r e s u b s t a n t i a l market share in our markets, continu-

the teams outside of Michigan

“JCM’s team was well organized with great communication from start to finish, so the installation went very smoothly,” said Kristina Griffus, Director of iGaming & Sports Betting Operations for Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort “The

with the expertise, deductible

options

Making Good Decisions for Indian Country

Dan Kain, business executive with the Puyallup Tribe, said he knew from his f i r s t m e e t i n g h e h a d s h a r e d v a l u e s w i t h A M E R I N D “ T h e T r i b e r e t a i n e d AMERIND over a decade ago based on AMERIND’s ability to provide the best coverage and rates, and, more importantly, its ability to protect the Tribe and its assets,” Kain said “From a cost perspective, AMERIND is very competitive with larger insurance companies

ensuring players can easily enjoy our game titles I am incredibly excited about the new themes we are showing this year at IGA – and think our casino partners will be, too!”

W i t h p l a c e m e n t a c r o s s m u l t i p l e states including California, Oklahoma and Minnesota (with more to come), Velvix recently announced its placem e n t w i t h i n t h e E i l e r s a n d K r e j c i k Gaming report for emerging suppliers. W h a t ’ s m o r e , t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r h a s pledged a variety of marketing pro-

shared clean energy goals ” S e c r e t a r y H a a l a n d m a d e t h e announcement during a visit to the Hopi Tribe in Arizona, which is receiving $4 2 million through these awards The visit comes as Secretary Haaland a n d A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y f o r I n d i a n A f f a i r s B r y a n N e w l a n d c o n c l u d e a multi-day trip that included visits with the White Mountain Apache and the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico to highlight how historic resources from the President’s Investing in America agenda are supporting Indigenous communities.

“ I n d i a n C o u n t r y ’ s r e v i t a l i z a t i o n and future depends on tribal households, schools and businesses having access to clean, reliable power,” said A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y N e w l a n d . “ T h e

ing our position as a premier, full-serv i c e , v e r t i c a l l y i n t e g r a t e d g a m i n g operator ”

“We are thrilled to partner with Choctaw Nation,” said Phillip Gelvan, C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r , W h i t e H a t Gaming “Choctaw Casinos & Resorts

new LED sports ticker at the entrance of Ascend is a key element that we needed to tie the sportsbook to the Ascend brand Plus, it’s an eye-catching feature on our casino floor that reminds guests to place their sports bets ”

The new sports ticker is a Digital Signage Solution (DSS) from JCM with a 1 875mm pixel pitch At more than 48 feet long and more than a foot-and-ahalf tall, the DSS Flex-Lite-S™ solution provides the length to display several

A policy costs less than the competitors, making it an easy choice,” he continued “AMERIND serves a niche market – Tribal governments and businesses Tribes Protecting Tribes – it’s a m o t t o t h a t d e s c r i b e s t h e m w e l l because they are so engaged in Indian Country They always approach our d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t we’re all in this together They want to vet your needs and then make good decisions ”

AMERIND: Your 100% Owned and Trusted Insurance Partner

An AM Best A- (Excellent) rated company, AMERIND offers a comprehensive line of affordable insurance products

grams with its current and future casino operating partners to help drive player engagement and game education

Chris Wieners, Managing Director of Velvix states, “It is vitally important that we work with our casino partners in the development and execution of marketing programs We have a brand, including game titles, that are totally new to players I think we are all confident in our game mechanics, but we have to get buy-in from the player. We need to give the player a reason to sit

Tribal Electrification Program is important for providing tribes a much-needed boost to their efforts of closing the access-to-electricity gap in their communities ”

In 2000, the Energy Information Administration issued a report which estimated that 14% of households on Native American reservations had no a c c e s s t o e l e c t r i c i t y , w h i c h w a s 1 0 times higher than the national average. I n 2 0 2 2 , t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f E n e r g y Office of Indian Energy issued a report citing that 16,805 total tribal homes were unelectrified, with most being in the Southwest region and Alaska. By recognizing that each tribe has its own e

needs and implementation capacity,

scores from live games and times of future ones and the height to make the content easily viewable from across the casino floor

This is the latest in several DSS projects JCM has created for the Ascend Sports Book at Soaring Eagle Previously, JCM installed a 40-ft -long Max-R™ sports ticker, a 16 5' x 6 5' Max-R video wall and more than 20 TV monitors in the sportsbook, creating an immersive viewing atmosphere for fans

designed to fit the needs of Indian Country Founded in 1986 as an act of unity among more than 400 Tribes, A M E R I N D i s t h e o n l y 1 0 0 % T r i b a l l y owned insurance provider The New M e x i c o - b a s e d A M E R I N D h a s s a v e d Tribe’s millions of dollars – all while strengthening Native American communities and economies and elevating Tribal sovereignty AMERIND also provides strategic planning for broadband d e p l o y m e n t b y T r i b a l g o v e r n m e n t s and business enterprises throughout Indian Country

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 amerind com, call 505 404 5000 or stop by booth #604

down and try these new games Simply placing boxes on floors and hoping for the best probably isn’t a sound strategy We also want to be good partners with the casino operators and want to be offering their players a reason to try the newest product on the floor Player promos, free spins, trials and swag giveaways are all areas we will be partnering in from a marketing perspective ”

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 .velvix.com or stop by booth #1220.

needs of individual tribal communities

The Tribal Electrification Program also advances the Biden-Harris admini s t r a t i o

i t i a t i v e , w h i c h was established by President Biden as p a r t o f h i s J a n u a r y 2 0 2 1 E x e c u t i v e O r d e r 1 4 0 0

a c k

i n g t h e C l i m a t e Crisis at Home and Abroad, and which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, including federally recognized tribal nations, which are recognized as Justice40 communities.

A second round of funding availability is expected to be announced in the spring of 2024.

already enjoys an amazing reputation, and we are honored to be able to help take their brand to the next level by offering iGaming to their players We are confident that our core technolog y , i n c l u d i n g o u r b e s t - i n - c l a s s P A M s o l u t i o n , p l u s o u r m a n a g e d s e r v i c e o f f e r i n g , w i l l p r o v i d e t h e n e c e s s a r y support for Choctaw Nation’s exciting expansion strategy The agreement is a n o t h e r m a j o r d e v e l o p m e