What ’ s Past is Prologue

Vol . 23 • No . 12 • DECEMBER 2024

Roger Gros , Publisher | rgros @ ggbmagazine . com X : @ GlobalGamingBiz

Frank Legato , Editor | flegato @ ggbmagazine . com X : @ FranklySpeakn

Jess Marquez , Managing Editor jmarquez @ ggbmagazine . com

Monica Cooley , Art Director mcooley @ ggbmagazine . com

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It ’ s only natural as we reach the end of the year to look back and reflect on what went right , what went wrong and how we can improve moving into the new year . For the gaming industry , 2024 was a pretty good year depending upon where you are in the world . Record revenues continued in the early part of the year , and flattened out later . So what can we do to reclaim those increasing revenues ? That ’ s the kind of reflection that corporations make .

And that ’ s why we publish our 10 Trends each December . We want our readers to be aware of what ’ s coming up in the new year , how it will affect their lives and their businesses , and how to get ready to deal with them .

I must confess , though : Some of these trends go over my head . Let ’ s start with Earle Hall ’ s piece on AI . I know artificial intelligence is all the rage and it will bring some good things to gaming , but my marketing sense is offended that computers may be able to do it better . Ditto for Cory Morowitz ’ s piece on macroeconomics . I can see why that ’ s important , but how in the world do you prepare for the unexpected ? Frank Legato ’ s two articles on slot trends leave me perplexed . And Kahlil Philander ’ s push for more effective self-exclusion programs strikes me as just common sense .

So I ’ m not really very good these days at looking into the future . I seem to enjoy the past much more , probably because it is like a comfortable blanket .

But as I wind down my day-to-day activities with GGB and Clarion , I actually started thinking about my future . I will still be hosting some of the GGB Podcasts we started 20 years ago and writing this column each month , so I ’ ll be hanging around for a while .

But speaking recently with old friends in the industry made me realize that there is no one documenting the incredible knowledge that they have acquired over the years . It ’ s a treasure trove that is slowly fading away . So while today ’ s industry is full of AI , algorithms and formulas , the industry of the past was all about personal relationships , respect for your customers and colleagues , and a genuine desire to entertain and delight . And for some reason , people seem to think these two ways to view the industry are not compatible . But I believe they are .

One of the things I want to do in my semiretirement is to create the Gaming Legacy Podcast , in which I will have conversations with the people who built the industry . I want to talk about how gaming was legalized in all those jurisdictions and whether it has fulfilled the promises they made . I want to discuss how customers reacted when you ’ d give them a surprise comp or they ’ d be upgraded to a suite . Let ’ s hear about how workers advanced in those days , how loyalty was earned and what events changed the industry .

I want to invite people to appear on the podcast whose names you might recognize , such as Jack Binion , who developed the Horseshoe casinos ; Lyle Berman , who was a pioneer in both tribal and riverboat gaming ; and Bobby Baldwin , who stood side-by-side with Steve Wynn while building the Mirage empire .

But I ’ d also like to talk with people whose names you might not know but hold a special depth of gaming knowledge — Roy Student , who developed the early players clubs , introduced server-based gaming , and pushed non-gaming amenities ; Debi Nutton , recently inducted into the AGA ’ s Gaming Hall of Fame as the first female dice dealer in Las Vegas and a table games marvel ; and Joe Fusco , one of the first three hires in the New Jersey Casino Control Commission , who helped develop the regulations that we are so familiar with today .

So I ’ m going to let all the super qualified people in the gaming business look to the future and develop the marvelous systems , resorts and games that will entertain future casino guests , but with the Gaming Legacy Podcast , I ’ m going to remind you that the knowledge and experience of the people who came before you is still alive and well . Maybe someday some smart young executive will listen and be inspired by these truly great people who built this business .

Remember this quote from George Orwell : “ He who controls the past , controls the future .”

Terri Brady , Sales & Marketing Director tbrady @ ggbmagazine . com

Beck Kingman-Gros , Associate Publisher & COO bkingros @ ggbmagazine . com

Lisa Johnson , Communications Advisor lisa @ lisajohnsoncommunications . com X : @ LisaJohnsonPR

Columnists Frank Fantini | Dave Forman | Sandra Mottoh

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Rino Armeni , President , Armeni Enterprises

• Dike Bacon , Principal / Partner , HBG Design

• Lauren Bates , President , Global Gaming Women

• Mark A . Birtha , Senior Vice President & General Manager , Hard Rock International

• Brendan Bussmann , Principal , BGlobal Advisors

• Alex Dixon , CEO , DRA / Q Casino

• Daron Dorsey , Executive Director , Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers

• Sally Gainsbury , Director at Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic & Professor of Psychology , University of Sydney

• Stephen Martino , Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer , MGM Resorts International

• Bill Miller , President and CEO , American Gaming Association

• Walt Power , CEO , Grand Ho Tram

• Rob Russell , Senior Gaming Analyst , Regulatory Management Counselors PC

• James Siva , Chairman , California Nations Indian Gaming Association / Vice Chairman , Morongo Band of Mission Indians

• Michael Soll , President , The Innovation Group

• Kresimir Spajic , Chief Executive Officer , Betfred Sportsbook

• Katherine Spilde , Executive Director , Sycuan Gaming Institute , San Diego State University —————— GGB Magazine 1000 Nevada Way • Suite 204 • Boulder City , NV 89005 702-248-1565 • 702-248-1567 ( fax ) www . ggbmagazine . com

The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor .

GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS is published monthly by Clarion Gaming International , LLC . Printed in Nevada , USA . Postmaster : Send Change of Address forms to : 1000 Nevada Way , Suite 204 , Boulder City , NV 89005 Email : subscriptions @ ggbmagazine . com

Official Publication

4 Global Gaming Business DECEMBER 2024

GGB Magazine December 2024 | Page 6

THE AGENDA

What ’ s Past is Prologue

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