Hospitality Administration and Management Commons^™

Estimating The Effect Of Poker Room Promotions On Player Traffic, Michael T. Paz, Mikhail M. Sher, B D. Mccullough, Shabnam Zarin

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This paper examines the impact of poker room promotions on player traffic in casino-based poker rooms. Casinos regularly spend significant portions of their marketing budget on promotions, including free-play, item-based offers, complementary hotel rooms, and travel reimbursements (among others), in an effort to drive casino traffic. Poker room promotions, by contrast, are unique within the context of casino promotions because they are both player-funded and paid in cash. Despite these significant differences between poker room and other casino promotions, prior research has not provided empirical evidence on the effectiveness of poker room promotions. Using collected data on casino-based poker games …

Increasing Investment In Stem Education For Females: Policy Considerations, Becky Harris, Andrea Dassopoulos, Daniel Sahl, Anna Starostina

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

During this difficult economic time, as policy makers decide how to use their limited resources to help prepare the rising generation for the demands of an ever-changing workforce, aligning K-12 educational priorities with higher education and economic development can help maximize public dollar investments in STEM education, particularly when females are given access to STEM and STEM-related education and programs. Smart public policy initiatives can help increase the representation of women in the technology, research and development, and innovation departments.

The purpose of this article is to provide policy recommendations that could help increase gender diversity and participation in STEM …

Where Women Stand In Tribal Vs. Non-Tribal Gaming Leadership, Toni Repetti, Shekinah L. Hoffman

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Tribal casinos operate for the economic development and self-sufficiency of their members so additional profit generated directly benefits their communities. Gender diversity has been shown to increase firm performance across different types of business so if tribal casinos have gender diversity in management they may be able to increase their profits. This study evaluates casino management positions in 405 tribal and 567 non-tribal casinos in the United States. Results indicate that women in tribal gaming only make up 37.8% of all management positions and while they represent about half of managers, the percentage decreases as the position increases. When compared …

Value Relevance Of Financial And Non-Financial Information: Evidence From The Gaming Industry, Lisa Goh, Kevin Ck Lam, Hong Weng Lawrence Lei

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Using financial and non-financial data from casino gaming firms listed in the United States from 1999–2017, we explore two research questions: (1) Is financial information value relevant to financial markets in the casino gaming industry? (2) Does non-financial information have incremental explanatory power over financial information? In general, we find that accounting numbers can explain a firm’s market value and stock returns in the casino gaming industry, except for accounting accruals, which may behave differently compared to other industries. We also find that non-financial information, such as the number of table games, number of slot machines, and their relative proportion, …

Expert Commentary On Sports Betting Post-Paspa, Becky Harris

International Gaming Institute Faculty Publications

Becky Harris, appointed by former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (2011-2019), served as the first female Chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board from January 2018 to January 2019. Harris was the first Chair to propose regulations addressing workplace sexual harassment. Prior to serving as Chair, Harris served in the Nevada Legislature for the 2015 and 2017 legislative sessions.

Book Review: The Strip. Las Vegas And The Architecture Of The American Dream., Marta Soligo

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Book Review: The Strip. Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream

A History Of Play In Print Board Games From The Renaissance To Milton Bradley, Kelli Wood

Occasional Papers

This essay considers how a historical legacy of printed games dating back to the sixteenth century in Italy laid the foundation for modern board games like those produced by Milton Bradley. The technology of print and the broad publics it reached enabled the spread of a common gaming culture- one built upon shared visual structures in game boards. Modern board games, of course, relied upon similar rules and replicated the ludic functions of their Renaissance progenitors. But perhaps more importantly, they built upon and perpetuated entrenched narratives about how fortune and morality contributed to lived experiences, presenting their viewers and …

Glass Ceilings & Leaky Pipelines: Gender Disparity In The Casino Industry, Toni Repetti, Shekinah L. Hoffman

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

While women account for over half the hospitality workforce there is a gap in leadership positions. This study evaluates 10,950 management positions in 972 United States commercial and Native American casinos, as of December 2016. The results show women hold 35.5% of manager and above positions. Women lead in departments such as human resources, public relations, and sales and events, but lag in casino operations management. This demonstrates horizontal occupational segregation. The results also indicate women represent 46.7% of managers, but significantly less of executive leadership. Women held only 19.4% of owner, president, and chief positions. This suggests vertical occupational …

Ninth Island, Las Vegas: Hawaiian Gaming Tourism And The California Hotel, Cynthia Van Gilder, Dana Herrera

Occasional Papers

Many people do not realize that Las Vegas, Nevada is home to a unique niche tourism: it is overwhelmingly the vacation destination of choice for residents of the state of Hawai’i, even affectionately termed the “Ninth Island.” Many credit the strong Hawaiian interest in Las Vegas to the fact that there is no legal gaming in the state of Hawai’i, however, data indicates that it is not just the opportunity to gamble that bring Hawaiian tourists here, but also the specifc amenities and experience offered at one particular hotel and casino, The California Hotel. Nicknamed “The Cal,” this establishment is …

The Impact Of Casino Revenue-Sharing On Tourism Efforts In Niagara Falls Usa: 2006-2016, Anthony L. Astran

Public Administration Master’s Projects

This qualitative case study examines the intersection of a Native-owned casino, revenue-sharing with its host community, and the impact of tourism marketing efforts vis-à-vis funds provided to the community’s tourism agency. Specifically, this report studies downtown Niagara Falls USA from the time period between 2006 and 2016, and seeks to determine whether and how funds from Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino boosted tourism marketing efforts by Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation (NTCC). Background research and a series of elite interviews with city officials and tourism agency leaders uncovered overall positivity in terms of growth in Niagara Falls USA’s tourism efforts …

An Enchanting Witchcraft: Masculinity, Melancholy, And The Pathology Of Gaming In Early Modern London, Celeste Chamberland

Occasional Papers

In seeking to illuminate the ways in which inchoate models of addiction emerged alongside the unprecedented popularity of gambling in Stuart London, this paper will explore the intersections between a rudimentary pathology of addiction and transformations in the epistemology of reason, the passions, and humoral psychology in the seventeenth century. By exploring the connections between endogenous and exogenous categories of mental illness, this study will examine the ways in which medicine, social expectations, and religion intersected in the seventeenth century alongside the historical relationship between evolving concepts of mental illness, stigma and the politics of blame and responsibility in the …

The Future Of Gambling Spaces: Esports And The World Of Competitive Video Gaming, Brett Abarbanel, Bryce Blum, Chris Grove, Carson Knuth, Seth Schorr, Rahul Sood

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

eSports, or competitive video gaming, are a rapidly developing segment of sport and gaming. eSports are a unique cultural and economic phenomenon, and only recently is this nascent industry garnering substantial attention from gambling operators, regulators, and researchers. In 2015, an estimated quarter of a billion dollars will be wagered on eSports, a number projected to grow to $23 billion by 2020 (Eilers Research, 2015).

This panel presentation will provide a general overview of eSports, including some background on the industry, a description of the market and general business model, information about the gambling opportunities within eSports, sponsorship opportunities and …

Recession Effect On Consumer Spend Allocation And Integrated Resorts' Profits, Toni Repetti, Ashok Singh

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Consumers have many decisions to make when it comes to travel. The first decision is choosing to travel at all, followed by how much to spend. Next based on the consumer’s motivations and preferences, they determine how to allocate their travel spend across a variety of categories. This study evaluates how revenue generation in integrated resorts changed during recessions. This allocation change in revenue also affects profits and profit margins as each department has a different cost structure. This study will also evaluate how profit and profit margins in each department were affected due to the change in revenue allocation …

Nevada Gaming Revenue: A Comparative Analysis Of Slots And Tables, Scott Boylan

Occasional Papers

Throughout much of its existence, Nevada’s gambling industry has been dominated by table games. Historically, slot machines were of secondary importance because they did not generate much revenue and were costly to maintain and operate. Starting in the late 1970s, a series of technological milestones improved the form and function of slot machines, and fueled replacement cycles on casino floors. Nevada gaming revenue data provides evidence of the economic effects of these improvements. Since 1984, slots generally have produced larger revenue gains than tables, although those gains are distributed neither uniformly over time nor across gaming markets. In addition, slots …

An Integrative Model Of Muslim Students' Religiosity And Travelling Behavior To Gaming Destinations, Dawood Sulaiman Al Jahwari

Theses and Dissertations

Scholars in the tourism industry are continuously looking for new knowledge related to travel behavior, motivations, and the preferences of the main tourist segments. Demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural variables can all influence the demand for travel. Despite numerous studies on most of the demographic and socioeconomic variables, scholars have paid very little attention to religiosity with regard to travel decision-making. Specifically, no researchers have investigated the role of Islamic religiosity in predicting Muslims’ destination choice decisions. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the role of attitudes, subjective norms, travel motivations, Islamic religiosity, self-efficacy, travel constraints, constraints negotiation strategies, …

Are Canadian First Nations Casinos Truly ‘A Sure Thing’? Appraising First Nations Casino In Ontario, Saskatchewan, And Alberta, 2006-2010, Yale D. Belanger Dr.

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

To date a dearth of data has made it difficult to evaluate the success of First Nations casinos in Canada. This paper remedies the situation by presenting a three-province overview (Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta) of existing First Nations gaming models. The goal is to highlight the exigencies of each provincial gaming model and to develop a better understanding of what works best for First Nations leaders interested in expanding current operations, and for those seeking entry into the gaming market.

Eyes On Casino Gaming In China: Residents' Attitudes Toward Casino Gaming Development In Sanya City, A Pre-Casino Establishment Analysis, Omar Moufakkir, Dallen Timothy

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

While Macau offers world class casinos, casino gaming is not legalized in Mainland China. Current media reports, however, indicate a growing interest by the Chinese government in establishing casinos in the Hainan Province. This study assesses the perceptions of residents about potential gaming development in their community. Resident attitude surveys have been used by planners and policymakers in order to gain local support for tourism projects and initiatives. A series of hypotheses were tested. In particular, the study evaluates the difference in perception between tourism workers and non-tourism workers, residents who live in the city center where the casino development …

The Technological And Business Evolution Of Machine Based Gambling In America, Darren Prum, Carlin Mccrory

Darren A. Prum

Machine Based Gambling has become a major source of revenue to many states across the country that need the money but face obstacles to raising taxes within their jurisdiction. The figures are startling with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s cut at over $1.456 Billion in 2011, which exceed the next closest state by $500 million. In addition, there are more than twice as many slot machines available to the public than ATMs. The benefits of machine based gaming has allowed many governments to revitalized tourism locations, make some Native Americans economically self-sufficient, and save horse and dog race tracks from closing …

Building The First Gaming Master’S Program: An Industry Perspective, Toni Repetti, Soyeon Jung

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The gaming industry has dramatically expanded not only domestically and internationally, but further to the online market. This growth has caused the industry to be more complicated than ever, and face massive challenges, competition, and opportunity. Consequently, there is a need for more qualified candidates in the gaming industry. Few gaming degrees are offered at a university level and more importantly, there is currently no master’s program in gaming management in the United States. Results of this survey of 201 industry professionals show that the majority would be interested in a master’s in gaming with most preferring an online of …

Gaming Opportunities, Attractions, And Monorail Ridership In Las Vegas, Davor Jedlicka

Occasional Papers

The history of Las Vegas monorail is presented in three stages: ideas, development and operations. The decline of ridership on the Las Vegas monorail is explained based on this history. The gravitational theory of people movement is used to propose overcoming the inertia to ride among the resorts. The gravitational theory suggests that monorail could contribute to the “Las Vegas Experience” as a force in attracting visitors from around the world. An increase in inter resort visitation rates via the monorail is likely to increase the overall gaming revenues and prevent the end of monorail operations.

Trip Characteristics Of Casino And Racino Visitors In A Midwestern State, Sheila A. Scott-Halsell, Radesh Palakurthi, Greg Dunn, Wanlanai Saiprasert

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Gaming is a revenue driver for many areas and can be an economic boost for businesses and tourism entities around gaming venues. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the characteristics profile and expenditures of casino and racino visitors in a Midwestern state as a valuable resource that could be used by those in tourism planning to better determine who is coming into their state for gaming purposes and how they might better attract and accommodate them. Suggestions will be made based on the findings to aid in determining effective marketing methods to attract visitors, as well as …

Applicability Of The Duplication Of Purchase Law To Gaming, Desmond Lam

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

In a bid to explore the use of an empirical-based model to explain regular gaming purchases, this study applies the Duplication of Purchase Law to gaming. Developed from empirical-based marketing theory and observed in many consumer brands, the Duplication of Purchase Law states that the dominant factor of purchase duplication between two brands is their market share. Using data obtained from the U.S. Gambling Impact Study, this study found that the duplication of games played was highly correlated to their penetration rates and hence, market share. In addition, the number of sole gamblers in each game was also related to …

Assessing The Information Needs Of Australian Gaming Managers, Helen Breen

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

There has been an increased need for gaming managers to source and use relevant information to assist them in managing their venues. Gaming managers have been under pressure from governments, the welfare sector, local communities and the media to manage gaming activities in a socially responsible manner. Research into the management of gaming is still in its infancy. This paper reports on a study into the information needs of a selection of gaming managers of clubs, hotels and casinos in two Australian states. This exploratory qualitative research provides in-depth responses from twenty-six gaming managers. These managers report that they want …

Casino Atmospherics From A Customer's Perspective: A Re-Examination, Lesley Johnson, Karl J. Mayer, Elena Champaner

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Considerable research in recent years has examined the influence of physical evidence, or atmosphere, in a variety of service settings, including leisure services. Not fully covered has been the area of atmosphere in a casino gaming setting. This extension of a previous study further investigates atmospherics in casinos. The findings showed that customers defined casino atmosphere in five key elements: theme, floor layout, ceiling height, employee uniforms, and noise level. Three of the five contributed positively to a player's satisfaction with the gaming experience as shown by the regression analysis. This reinforces previous indications of the need for casino management …

Glass Ceiling Or Saran Wrap™? Women In Gaming Management, Wanda M. Costen, Christian E. Hardigree, Michael A. Testagrossa

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This study explores women's representation in gaming management in the 24 highest gross revenue gaming establishments in America. While almost 54% of foodservice and lodging employees are women, and approximately 44% of the managers in foodservice and lodging are women, one area of hospitality seems to be lagging-gaming. Our data indicated that women held 123 of 496 positions or 24.8% of casino management positions. Almost 68% of these female managers were in non-gaming positions. Our findings appear to support social closure theory since 11 of the 40 women in gaming management positions were in the cage department, and 4 of …

Perceptions Of A Bible Belt State's Proposed Casino Gaming Legislation By Religious Affiliation: The Case Of Kentucky Residents, Desmond O. Brown, Mary G. Roseman, Sunny Ham

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This study seeks to explore whether differences exist among Kentucky residents' perception of casino gaming based on religious affiliation. A survey was conducted to sample 600 residents regarding currently a widely debated introduction of land-based casinos in the state, yielding a response rate of 38.4%. The results support earlier studies regarding the impact religion has on people's attitudes toward gaming. The findings suggest that Catholics have a more positive attitude toward the legalization of gambling than persons of Protestant faiths.

Using The Critical Incident Technique To Assess Gaming Customer Satisfaction, Lesley Johnson

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Before gaming organizations can initiate efforts to service their customers, they must be able to effectively manage the service encounter. Although every service encounter is not necessarily critical to satisfaction, it is not always obvious which are crucial to the customer and which are not. Using critical incidents reported by gaming customers and employees, this study identifies service encounters that both parties perceive as being very satisfactory or very dissatisfactory from the customer's point of view. Identifying particularly positive and negative customer service experiences can provide direction for management in allocating resources specifically to those areas that maximize customer satisfaction …

The Hospitality Industry's Lmpact On The State Of Nevada: A Summary & Review, Shannon Bybee, Jeremy A. Aguero

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This article summarizes the economic, fiscal, and social impact findings of The Hospitality Industry's Impact on the State of Nevada, a report issued in November1998 by the International Gaming Institute. This summary includes data on jobs, wages, output, taxes, crime, and other social issues. A brief discussion is included regarding the authors' opinions of the state's dependence on the hospitality industry and gaming taxes, as well as the potential ramifications of this dependence in a changing economic environment.

A Global Market Analysis Of Casino Gaming On The Internet, Lawrence Dandurand

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Technology can provide gaming to any household in the world. The market potential of casino gaming on the Internet is substantial. This article summarizes an analysis of the global Internet casino gaming market. It indicates: (1) the nature of Internet casino gaming; (2) the competitive environment; (3) market opportunities; (4) environmental constraints; (5) marketing strategies; (6) market demand; (7) market potential; and (8) a flexible diffusion of innovation model for forecasting market demand.

New Developments In Gaming Taxation And Regulation: An Update, Susan H. Lvancevich, Bernard N. Fried

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

The gaming industry is facing increased regulatory interest. Congress has authorized a commission to investigate gaming in the United States. The Internal Revenue Service continues to interpret ambiguous areas of the tax code in an attempt to raise gaming tax revenues. Regulatory changes in currency transaction reporting have also resulted in some significant changes for the industry. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on tax and regulatory issues currently facing the gaming industry. Specifically, the paper will address tax and regulatory developments in: (a) tip compliance, (b) cash transaction reporting, (c) complimentaries, (d) employee cafeterias, (e) …