Maryland Casinos Cut Back on Slots

[OTABILL]

Interesting article on casino attempts to attract millennials.

Casinos bet on growth in table games, removing slot machines to make room

[notes1]

Interesting article on casino attempts to attract millennials.

Casinos bet on growth in table games, removing slot machines to make room
  real good article. it does not surprise me that slots are less attractive in MD, due to the high taxes. it is surprising that slots are losing it's appeal around the country.  the question i would have, is the drop in slot play just a proportional drop in all gambling games? i think casinos are desperate to attract gamblers, but it is hazardous to base a model on the younger crowd. they just do not have the money. eventually they will decide to settle down, form families and pay mortgages. casinos would be wise to pay attention the largest demographic group i see in casinos, women, aged 50-80.  

[ko king]

[QUOTE=OTABILL]Interesting article on casino attempts to attract millennials.

Casinos bet on growth in table games, removing slot machines to make room
  real good article. it does not surprise me that slots are less attractive in MD, due to the high taxes. it is surprising that slots are losing it's appeal around the country.  the question i would have, is the drop in slot play just a proportional drop in all gambling games? i think casinos are desperate to attract gamblers, but it is hazardous to base a model on the younger crowd. they just do not have the money. eventually they will decide to settle down, form families and pay mortgages. casinos would be wise to pay attention the largest demographic group i see in casinos, women, aged 50-80.  [/QUOTE]

You bring up a great point that I brought up to my host at my favorite casino, I just can't understand how they can justify catering to the younger crowd. I don't know about you but I didn't really have much disposable income until around 40 years old. I was a little ticked off because they moved all the vp machines again, this time they've moved them all the way to the rear of the casino tucked back in the corner. If you try to play on a sunny day the glare on the machines is so bad you can barely see the cards. They moved in more of these big video slot games that I don't have a clue as to what's a winner or a loser. My host explained that the younger crowd enjoys playing those type of games, most don't like vp or traditional slots. True story, as I waited in line to cash my tickets at the end of the night (around $800) I could see that most of the people in front of me were youngsters. I could see them cashing tickets for really small amounts 5-10 dollars, I almost laughed out loud when I noticed one young gal that had waited in line to cash a ticket for .17 cents. I have to admit though that around these parts the traditional slots and vp have lost so many players at most of the casinos so they may know something I don't.

[notes1]

kk, in regards to your comment about not having much disposal income until later in life, i believe things have changed, at least temporarily. statistics bear out that young folks today are delaying marriage, children and home purchases. that is where much of our money went, when we were younger. whether it is high student loans, fear of the future, uncertainity about their job prospects or something else, not spending on those basics, has given them more disposal dollars, to spend on themselves. in most every casino i go in, there is a crowd of younger folks, but, most are not gambling. hanging out at a casino is the thing to do.  but, eventually, i would assume these folks would end up doing what us old folks did and get on with their lives and the money to spend at casinos, will not be there. so, if i ran a casino, i would be leery about counting on 20-35 year olds being a long term profitable group. i have commented before, the casino is going to make a lot more with that 50-80 year old banging on a slot machine than serving a couple of over priced drinks to young folks.  

[olds442jetaway]

I bs with some of the younger gang from time to time at the casino. On average, they drop a hundred bucks or so per trip on booze and fast food. Unfortunately, except on rare occasions, my average is 500 on vp play. I don't think I am just speaking for myself either. Hoping of course that will change for 2015 and beyond.
     Edited to add.....that first smiley was supposed to be a frown face.

[alpax]

Thanks for the article Bill, I agree with the others that it is very interesting. As a person who used to play slots for the thrills, I'd wish the house edge/hold was much less than the 8-12% in theory. I think the casino can still make good money as well. There is an extra penalty to the player for getting a W2G in addition to facing a large hold. Table games rarely ever produce a W2G, royal flush in mississippi stud, let it ride, carribean stud, ultimate texas holdem.

notes has summarized our current economic situation very well, 30 is becoming the new 20 to say the least. The restaurants at the casinos appeal to the foodies as well as the dayclub and/or nightclub (the ones in Vegas bring in millions, but still will not be enough to maintain a casino).