Las Vegas Strip Recovery Under Way

February 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment  

Casino Stocks Rise from Recession Lows

The Las Vegas Sun reported that the gaming industry recovery on the Las Vegas Strip will continue this year and accelerate in 2012 according to a prediction by, Moody’s Investors Service in a recent market update.

Wynn Casinos, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts have all shown huge gains in stocks from their March 2009 lows, outstripping even the solid performance by the broad market. Las Vegas Sands (LVS), Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and MGM Resorts (MGM) are up 3,299%, 722% and 546%, respectively, but they are still not close to their 2007 highs.

Does this prove that people are feeling better and ready to gamble again?

Brothers In Crisis: Earthquake Hits New Zealand

February 23, 2011 by · Leave a Comment  

Our hearts go out to the people of  New Zealand

We were personally touched by this recent geologic event  as our VP of Sales Leland Rolling and his family  traveled to New Zealand to play on the U.S. Tennis Team.

We are so thankful that Leland and his family are home safely and had no serious injuries.  Fortunately, they were all together when it hit, but they were also in the center of town where buildings collapsed around them.

Its our philosophy to encourage our team to follow their passion and do what they love. For that reason Leland was strongly encouraged to play competitive tennis and follow his dream which lead him to New Zealand. Living in Southern California we are no strangers to earthquakes. The Stics family has escaped so many and yet our star tennis player goes half way around the world only to find his family in the middle of tremendous destruction caused by an earthquake.

Stics VP Sales Named to US Tennis Team

February 18, 2011 by · Leave a Comment  

Leland Rolling Tennis Champion

Senior World Team Championships

Ranked # 3 in the US, Rolling will Play Doubles in New Zealand

Our very own VP of Sales, Leland Rolling was selected as one of 40 players who will represent the United States at the 31st International Tennis Federation (ITF) Seniors World Team Championships in Christchurch New Zealand February 16 – 26.

Leland is ranked #3 in the US in his division and is playing on his first Cup team.  He is a member of the esteemed Dubler (45) Cup team with four time Grand Slam winner Rich Leach, Newport Beach CA, Mario Tabares, Miami, FL and Andy Stoner, Cave Creek, AZ.

ITF Seniors/Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the most coveted team event on the ITF Seniors circuit. This year, the ITF invited the top 4 ranked players for the Dubler Cup team.  The US team will be playing against 13 other countries including France who is the defending Dubler Cup Champs.

While it is strange to call an athlete in his mid 40’s a senior, we know Leland to be a fierce competitor and wish him and his team safe travels and victory in New Zealand.

The team matches start Monday and the finals are Saturday.

MGM M Life Utilizes Innovative Customer Loyalty Program

January 7, 2011 by · Leave a Comment  

M Life Logo MGM Resort Loyalty ProgramMGM Generates Complete Customer Profile Across the Brand

In today’s economy, brands are finding new ways to be smart about attracting customers. Las Vegas casinos have always offered marketing promotions and comps such as free drinks, hotel rooms or tokens to keep customers coming back.

None, however, have gone as far as the new customer reward program from MGM Casinos M Life.  This new customer loyalty program for MGM has found an innovative way to reward their customers and build brand loyalty.

Rather than focusing solely on customer’s gambling patterns, MGM tracks members of their reward program across all resorts and all facets of their hotels, including clubs, dining, spas, shopping and gambling. MGM then uses this information to offer its customers perks targeted to their personal interests. For more information on the program visit the M Life site or this recent Las Vegas Sun article about M Life.

Stics is pleased to have a number of MGM properties as Stics Predictive Analytics clients. MGM has a very strong marketing organization and they are always looking to improve their marketing strategies and tactics.  As marketing optimization experts, Stics understand the complexities in executing multi faceted marketing program and expect the M Life approach to further enhance MGM Casinos revenue retention while building stronger brand loyalty with high value guests.

Flat is the New Up

December 10, 2010 by · Leave a Comment  

The Decline in Casino Gambling Leveling Off

Upon approaching the bottom of the market, we noticed that flat casino gaming revenues were being carried like a badge of respectability and even a harbinger of hope. Over the past year, Stics conducted three market surveys, of U.S. based casino, to better understand the challenges and needs of casino marketers and the gaming industry.

Our primary research confirms what you may have suspected:

  • Fully 63% of the market finds their revenues down or flat.
  • Pockets of actual “up” markets exist where geography and competition permit

While this is not good news, there is a general sense that the decline in casino gambling has leveled off.

One, of many current challenges, is how to effectively and efficiently re-engage profitable gamblers. Most properties are working hard at this problem, but sometimes that is not enough.  If you are looking for a new way to increase revenue at your casino property Stics predictive analytics has a proven track record for increasing ROI.

Feel free to call us for more information.

G2E 2010 Gets Serious

November 19, 2010 by · Leave a Comment  

Stics back from Global Gaming Conference

In keeping with serious economic times, the Global Gaming Conference (G2E ) turned serious this year. Upon entering this year’s G2E in fun filled Las Vegas, many things looked the same but one thing had clearly changed. The suits were back!

Stics has exhibited at the G2E for many years.  In the recent past, the de facto dressed code was the business casual polo shirt. That fashion statement changed this year in keeping with the serious nature of business.

In addition to a sea of suits, we observed fewer booths, less giveaways, lean booth staffs and more earnestness. Next year the gaming industries marquee event will be moved up a month and have a new location at the Sands convention center.

So as the saying goes….everything old is new again. But I do hope that shoulder pads get lost forever.

Casino Marketing Trends

September 3, 2010 by · Leave a Comment  

Casino Marketing Survey

Earlier this year, Stics conducted a preliminary research project to gauge the state of the U.S. gaming industry, from a marketing perspective. We contacted both senior level business executives as well as high to mid-level marketing department professionals to learn more about their challenges and perceptions.

Listed below is a high level summary of some of the more interesting observations.

Top 5 Casino Marketing Observations

  1. Respondents felt their casino marketing efforts were performing well – despite the down economy.
  2. Direct mail volume of was up by 10 – 20%.
  3. Marketers put more value on the website and online programs while business leaders didn’t see value in the websites as compared to direct mail and analysis.
  4. Business leaders are “likely” to “very likely” to invest in new marketing technologies but marketing teams were “very unlikely” to “unlikely” to invest.
  5. Marketers were concerned about expenses.

While it is obvious that the economy has taken its toll on casino marketers and the gaming industry as a whole, Stics believes that today’s casino marketers are being asked to do more with less. As a result, they are executing on a large number of campaigns to a wider audience. This presents them with the new challenge of how to profitably reach this wider audience.

Stics is currently conducting a more comprehensive study as a follow up to our preliminary findings. We will keep you posted on other interesting facts when they become available.

Stics helps casino marketers reach a wider, more profitable audience through the efficient and effective use of predictive modeling. If you have any questions about predictive analytics for casino marketing, please give us a call. We look forward to speaking with you.