Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | August 2009 42 few bodies or create a retail opportunity.— “Freaks” sells branded vomit bags at its souvenir stand. HUGGING MONKEYS Santa Ana Star Casino (Bernalillo, N.M.) Moving from the creepy to the warm and fuzzy, I bring you the “Hugging Monkeys” from Santa Ana Star Casino. Held as a Valentine’s Day promo, these arm-in-arm cute critters from just down the evolutionary scale could both be yours for a mere 500 points (while supplies last, of course). More proof that warm and fuzzy can translate into cold, hard cash. TURKEY AND PUMPKIN PIE Station Casinos (Las Vegas) Ditch the fancy Thanksgiving weekend promotion and do what Station Casinos did—give away turkeys and pumpkin pies. Last year at all Station Casinos (that should tell you this is a home run), on one pre- Thanksgiving day, players club members could “Earn 1,000 Points and Get a Turkey” (plus keep your points) and on another day there was a “Free Pumpkin Pie Giveaway, Just for Showing Your Boarding Pass Card”. … Gee, turkey and pumpkin pie to draw customers beforeThanksgiving, whowoulda thunk it? DINNER IN THE SKY Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Coconut Creek, Fla.) And speaking of food, there’s the “Dinner in the Sky” promotion conducted by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Imagine a huge crane taking 22 guests at a time 160 feet into the air to be served a five-course gourmet meal (from the “200 Leagues Above the Florida Sea” menu) complete with wine, champagne and music. Over two days there were 10 one-hour “lifts,” including the first-ever wedding in the sky. … Now that’s a real high! SOLD OUT, EXCEPT FOR YOU Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas) It came as a VIP e-mail invitation—two free nights and a chance to see either Bon Jovi or Kenny Chesney in concert at The Joint. But wait, the shows are “Sold Out,” the e-mail said. But you, mister very special player, “As a VIP can see your choice of one show as our guest.” I know, I know, if they still could offer you a ticket, technically they weren’t “sold out”. But what a great buzz creator for two hot shows and a lesson in perceived value and exclusivity for the Hard Rock’sbest c a s i n o rockers. Feature The Worst Unfortunately, there would be no “Best (and Worst)” without some real lollapaloozas. And this year produced a treasure trove of promotions featuring bad taste, poor judgment, classic screw-ups and common-sense vanishing acts. … The crusty envelope, please! GUNS AND ROYALS A video poker bar (Western United States) Sure, it’s common to have bonus promotions for hitting royal flushes on video poker machines. What’s uncommon, except evidently at this video poker bar, is to offer a pistol (yes, that kind of pistol) as the bonus. “Hit Two Royals in 30 Days, Win a Pistol!” screamed the outdoor advertising banner— complete with a drawing of not one but two revolvers. Someone ought to be shot (no, not LITERALLY). TWO BUFFETS OR $42.9 MILLION? A North American casino It happens all the time. A slot player mistakenly thinks they have won a jackpot. But this time at this unnamed casino the lights went on, the sounds went off, and