According to GamblingOnline.com, Connecticut does not have a long history of gambling. This was a conservative State right from the get-go. In fact, without the tribal land developments there would be very little gambling at all in this State. As a result, “The introduction of a State lottery was in 1983. Besides that only limited Pari-Mutuel betting on horses and dogs were available. Incidentally, charity gambling included Duck and Frog racing in addition to the usual bingo and raffles.” Due to tribal sovereignty, Foxwoods started with a bingo-hall in 1986.
Casino Games: Two of the largest casinos in the country reside in CT. Furthermore. both are located only ten minutes away from each other. They offer everything Las Vegas resorts offer on the Strip, only with better odds on most games.
Live Poker: Both casinos have poker rooms that are some of the largest in the country.
Sports Betting: On-track and simulcast venues are legal. However, legal Sports-Betting does not look to be offered anytime soon. The tribes and the state have a compact that requires 25% of all slot revenue to be paid to the state. Conversely, the agreement does not include table games. In return, they have control of gaming activities outside the lottery. Unfortunately, this complicates the advent of legal sports-betting for some time to come.
Lottery Betting: Yes, there is a State lottery and residents have access to national games like the Powerball.
Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV should all go hand in hand. Loyalty Programs needs more than just ADT to decide players comps. ADT, or Average Daily Theoretical,is what drives the casino industry comp system. ADT measures your worth to the casino. With local casinos so close to so many Americans, gambling has never been more popular. But the loyalty system based on ADT needs something more – it needs ITV. We know about casinos and your ADT, but what’s ITV you ask? Read on….
TravelZork’sMichael Trager recently wrote an article “Why Vegas Casino Loyalty Is Broken.” It looked at what is happening in Las Vegas with casino rewards and casino fees. And previously, in his TwitPic of the Week Monologue (360 Vegas Podcast Episode #282) Mark Wojtowic referred to it as well. Both inspired me. So, I ask you, “what is the casino industry missing in offering a better recreational gambling experience?”
What motivates our recreational Gambling experience?
Intrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by internal rewards. It’s something that arises within the individual because the behavior is naturally satisfying. This contrasts with extrinsic motivation, which involves a behavior to earn external rewards.
ADT is built on extrinsic rewards – comped dining, entertainment and free slot play. The physical casino also offers extrinsic motivation. Sounds, chair comfort, colors and casino design all aid to offer some form of endorphin release. Even the scent of casino air is sometimes artificially enhanced for the gambler’s benefit.
Recreational gambling offers lots of extrinsic rewards. But the gaming industry has forgotten, or chose to disregard, the most important part. The chance of winning and the time spent in the chase is more important than all of that. In other words, the intrinsic incentive of fun in recreational gambling is ceasing to be a factor.
AverageDailyTheoreticalandIntrinsicMotivation
Average Daily Theoretical is your value to the casino. The math to determine your ADT is based on the above.
ADT (Average Daily Theoretical)is how the casino measures your worth. It considers how much you play, the denomination of your play, and the length of time you play in a day. I suggest it’s time we, the casino guest, measure the casino’s worth by developing a new measurement called IVT (Intrinsic Theoretical Value). It would be a measure of bankroll length, gaming rules, rewards club comparisons and winnings.
Seriously, an ITV sounds crazy, but, it could work. The player would log the following when gambling:
comparing length of bankroll,
gaming rules
awarded comps “over time”
and maybe an ambiance/fun quotient
We then would compare casino value in a vaguely measurable way. Think how cool it would be to visit a casino on the basis of their “ITV.” Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV – are they a future consideration?
Lower slots odds, 6:5 Blackjack, automatic shuffle machines, less odds at the Craps table, and unplayable video poker, have damaged our intrinsic motivation. Give the player less “bells and whistles.” Increase the hope of winning and the length of time our bankroll lasts. The ever-present greed in the gambling industry is causing a feeling of “why bother?” This is your recreational gambling ITV taking a hit.
las Vegas data misunderstood?
Resort Fees, Low Gambling Value Increses in Las Vegas & the rest of the U.S.
In Las Vegas, gambling CEO’s seem puzzled by the dip in gambling revenue. But most months have a higher visitor stat. One main reason is that the total gambling bankroll is shackled. Parking fees, resort fees, CSN fees, higher food and drink prices, and less player comps are all the culprits. Add a bigger house edge with game rules and pay out percentages like 6:5 BJ and 7/5 video poker and “why bother?” That response is an internal feeling of hopelessness in the experience of gambling, a decreased ITV.
Casino Rewards Clubs are also squeezing the fun out of the experience. Cut backs in comps and rewards, such as in CET’s Total Rewards and Boyd’s B Connected, are changing where we gamble. One example is shortened periods for accruing rewards points . Another is the tightening of casino rewards programs, making it harder to rise in tier level.
Conclusion
IVT will increase with greater hospitality, gambling options, and less “nickel & dining.” CEO’s wouldn’t need to be looking for skill-based games, stadium gaming and sports betting as THE panacea for their misappropriated understanding of getting guests of all ages through the doors.
It’s really so simple. I feel good when my gambling experience lasts longer and is potentially better financially. I will visit more, stay longer, and take in more amenities at the casino property inner motivation has been met.
Oh, those who think that casinos should run their business and still let everyone win – and still pay the bills! Human beings are becoming so entitled. If you ask casino patrons on a bad streak, they will say the casino is up to something – they aren’t winning – and it’s the casino’s fault.
Listen, casino gambling is a recreational activity, with the vast majority of games offered having a skewed advantage to the house – we all know it, we just sit at that slot machine, riding that trip down the river of denial.
An article by Dr. Harrigan, the lead researcher and contact person for the University of Waterloo Problem Gambling Research Team. His primary research interest is in gambling addictions with a focus on why so many slot machine gamblers become addicted. In his article, he deals with many factors that the “Casino Industry” is basically trying to make addicts out of all of us – real, concerning, and a serious topic for potentially addictive gamblers.
So, how do casinos entice the individual gambler into gambling more? One way, to reference Dr. Harrigan’s article, is that the casino is not truthful about how much the slot machine pays. I’ve got news for you – hold on to your hat – that’s why it’s called “gambling!”
Big Win – Everytime?
Dr. Harrigan’s article says “…..on modern slot machines, half of ‘wins’ are actually net losses. An example would be a $1 bet with a 30¢ payoff. This is a loss of 70¢, but the machine shows bright graphics and makes sounds announcing a win. Researchers call these events Losses Disguised as Wins (LDWs) and have clearly shown that players experience these as actual wins, giving the players the (incorrect) positive feelings that they are winning.”
No kidding. The invention of video slots gave the impression of lots of small hits instead of waiting longer for bigger hits in reels. Bonuses also play in this game – individual hits can be small more often due to the chance and volatility of hitting a bigger bonus. We all wait to hit THE BIG ONE! Lotteries, the worst odds of all, wouldn’t be so popular – but we want the chance to hit the BIG ONE! In the longer run, the real problem is that the payout percentage continues to be lower throughout the country. Why? Because as a culture, we still intend on being constantly entertained, so it doesn’t matter to most players. We know the games pay less – but we like the fun, so we play them anyway. Why would so many people settle for 6/5 blackjack? or 6/5 JOB Video poker? Or Keno?
Caveman Keno
Doesn’t the responsibility on which games to gamble on rest on the shoulders of the gambler? YES!
Shouldn’t gamblers that play often be responsible enough to KNOW the best games, best strategies, and the pitfalls of high casino-advantage games? YES
So, be aware of the “tricks” (or maybe they are just good business practice) and take responsibility for your gaming. If it’s not fun anymore, contact GA, tell the casino to not allow your entrance (which casinos do to help addicted gamblers any time you feel you can’t control staying away) and seek help.
It’s not a black and white situation. It is neither solely the casino’s fault or the addict’s – it’s a gray area, more complex than any single blog could summarize.
So, be careful, be smart, be knowledgeable, and go to the casino with a money management plan for your visit every single time. This way you limit the “trickery” of those casinos, and also help to either leave with money, or at least lengthen your bankroll’s life.
Remember – Of all things, if you can’t control your gambling, seek help.
Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV should all go hand in hand. Loyalty Programs needs more than just ADT to decide players comps. 
What motivates our recreational Gambling experience?
Oh, those who think that casinos should run their business and still let everyone win – and still pay the bills! Human beings are becoming so entitled. If you ask casino patrons on a bad streak, they will say the casino is up to something – they aren’t winning – and it’s the casino’s fault.
