|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.C.Hilton
|
17,274,901
|
8,383,576
|
25,658,477
|
23,517,785
|
9.1
|
|
Park Place
|
32,020,843
|
12,129,093
|
44,149,936
|
40,524,183
|
8.9
|
|
Caesars
|
24,627,088
|
10,537,993
|
35,165,081
|
33,501,852
|
5.0
|
|
Claridge
|
12,399,829
|
3,825,042
|
16,224,871
|
11,960,572
|
35.7
|
|
Harrah's
|
28,505,364
|
5,076,956
|
33,582,320
|
30,702,016
|
9.4
|
|
Resorts
|
14,037,959
|
6,424,469
|
20,462,428
|
19,283,736
|
6.1
|
|
Sands
|
13,688,252
|
6,132,708
|
19,820,960
|
18,732,715
|
5.8
|
|
Showboat
|
26,595,025
|
3,660,521
|
30,255,546
|
30,873,792
|
-2.0
|
|
Tropicana
|
24,171,490
|
11,020,775
|
35,192,265
|
33,422,679
|
5.3
|
|
Trump Marina
|
17,159,473
|
5,674,215
|
22,833,688
|
23,471,437
|
-2.7
|
|
Trump Plaza
|
19,801,088
|
7,570,600
|
27,371,688
|
34,731,653
|
-21.2
|
|
Taj Mahal
|
29,790,927
|
18,264,773
|
48,055,700
|
42,297,232
|
13.6
|
|
$260,072,239
|
$98,700,721
|
$358,772,960
|
$343,019,652
|
4.6%
|
The continuing percentage of revenue being earned by the slots has for a number of years led to floorspace in the Pit being given up to the latest offerings from IGT, Williams and Bally. This trend looks set to continue as more interactive and entertaining games previewed at the September Las Vegas WGCE will be beginning to make their ways onto America's gaming floors shortly.
Nine of the Casinos saw revenues increase. The Claridge seeing the win column up 35% from the previous October. Donald Trumps flagship Taj Mahal continues to be the winningest casino on the boardwalk. It is also the one with the highest table game revenues 38% of the total, which is more than five of the other casinos slot win. The Showboat has a slot to tables percentage of 88 to 12, and for October produced $1 million per day gross win.
Harrah's also has a high slots to tables win percentage at 85 to 15. This no doubt is due to the popularity of the slot club. The company recently became the first to air nationally televised commercials taking advantage of the ruling that customers could be shown gambling in the Ads.
The increase in popularity of slots over tables lies in the fact that the slot & video manufacturers now have huge R&D budgets and often the approval of a new model is a relatively simple task. Banks of modern slots also require less labour and less training costs. An argument always popular with slot managers.
Will the trend change?. We don't think so. The up and coming slot player is one familiar with looking at a screen, either TV or computer. Manufacturers are incorporating more interactive and entertaining features into quicker game play. Casinos are also not in the business to gamble and when offered the latest "Branded" models will be looking for space on the floor to site them. Well placed quarter machines can now easily make $500 per day.
The continued decline in the contribution of the tables to the bottom line will perhaps in the next 12 months see the slots achieving in AC over 75% of the total.
Ian Sutton
17/11/99
