William Hill Sportsbook at Tropicana Atlantic City Photo credit : Dinofa Photography
Sound Decisions
On the auditory side , operators have the ability to control the content they want . “ We often consider audio sound isolation when creating multiple viewing areas ,” Mangini says . “ This is where an invisible audio cone of sound isolation is established for a specific seating area .
“ People outside this area cannot hear the audio well as opposed to the people inside the area of the invisible audio cone . We can establish multiple AV and audio zones where different groups can experience different games without interfering with one another .”
At the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino in Glendale , Arizona , JCM installed a broad range of digital signage , from the sports bar to the bingo room to the poker room .
“ At the sports bar , guests enjoy the action on five giant LED video walls for the ultimate sports viewing party ,” says Kubajak . “ The poker room features 16 LCD displays suspended from the ceiling in unique pod configurations , giving players the ability to enjoy a game of poker without missing the action of any broadcasted sporting event .
“ Additionally , in the bingo room , a 16.4-foot-by-11.4-foot LED video wall displays all the bingo fun , along with a variety of live programming for added entertainment .”
The R2A-designed video wall at Oak Grove Racing Gaming and Hotel in Oak Grove , Kentucky rises three feet above the casino floor behind a bar . A band plays from a stage behind the bartender , and the video wall lays behind the band .
“ A lot of times customers want to outdo themselves and use digital signage as an opportunity to refresh and update the property ,” Kubajak says . “ For example , we recently installed our largest-ever sports ticker : a DSS FLEX LITE-S 1.9 mm ticker measuring 96 feet wide by nearly two feet high at Jack Thistledown Racino in Ohio .”
From Subtle to Spectacular
The casino floor at Resorts World Catskills features a dynamic installation with water that “ bounces ” off whatever it hits at the bottom of the screen . At the center of the video wall , a hydraulic door opens to a small stage and causes the water to “ crash ” into the door frame while it ’ s visible . It creates an incredible , relaxing experience for guests to enjoy while they sit in the bar area .
Another example of an extravagant outdoor display is at Grand Casino in Shawnee , Oklahoma , where JCM installed a 10-mm Mitsubishi NXL Series double-sided digital sign that measures nearly 40 feet wide and 20 feet tall on both sides . It ’ s mounted within an existing pylon sign frame structure at the property ’ s entrance and greets guests with a variety of messaging .
“ The sportsbooks we originally designed five years ago are utilizing AV consultants to update their processing capabilities to deliver the best quality viewing experience for their customers ,” says Kubajak .
Some operators prefer subtlety over spectacle , or want to strike a balance between the two . “ It ’ s important to be considerate of the client and end user , what their expectations are and what you ’ re trying to achieve through design ,” says Mangini . “ Spectacular isn ’ t necessarily the right fit for a piano bar or intimate lounge setting , while a high-energy sports bar or outdoor arena necessitates more of a dramatic design approach .”
Whether reorganizing or designing something new , it ’ s necessary to not only appeal to the client but factor in the space and the budget . “ In a small space , we ’ re mindful not to overload every wall and instead be focus-driven on what will create the best immersive experience ,” says Mangini . “ Each space and client has its own unique set of requirements in terms of what they ’ re trying to achieve .”
Outside the gaming realm , the trend of immersive art exhibits in media and AV are intended to be highly sensory and their popularity is sparking similar exhibits to pop up .
“ Immersive is good and creates an opportunity to push the envelope of using technology as a way to create and enhance unique guest experiences , while also taking into consideration the end user and what the client wants to achieve ,” says Mangini .
Million-dollar shows are always fun to design , especially when they ’ re focused and have a purpose , he adds . “ Spectacular spaces can be impactful and memorable when they ’ re designed for the right environment .”
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