Harry, got to agree with Pete on this subject. On the east coast, don't
think you see much in the way of new software being tested. On the west coast, a
lot of casinos have been used as test beds for a long time. For example, Reno
Hilton is where a lot Bally Gaming systems software is tested (Bally Gaming
is also close to them physically). IGT has used a lot of Reno & Las Vegas
casinos for their tests. Reading between the lines, I believe the new ACRES
system that just went in to the Atlantis has the skill-tracking capability (or
will have it in an upgrade).
What delays/prevents the usage of a lot of new systems to their fullest
capability are the wishes of current employees to stay with the status quo. Many
employees are against the implementation because it's not in their own best
interests. For instance, employees whose compensation depends on player volume
won't want a skill-tracking system because it will eliminate volume play by
skilled players. (BTW, high $ volume players will be the first victims,
everyone else is considered small-fry.)
Having implemented a lot of accounting/inventory control systems, I remember
when employees would deliberately sabotage the system during the early
stages to demonstrate that the new system didn't work. Or they would short-cut the
system by using manual entry to take care of their dept's needs (billing)
but it left another dept's records out of kilter (warehouse, because items
weren't removed from inventory).
Since casinos don't pay as well (compared to other industries), they don't
get employees who are as sharp or as highly-motivated to shepherd changes
which are beneficial to the organization. As long as sales/marketing depts goals
are based on player volume & traffic instead of being aligned with
organization bottom-line, we will probably have nothing to fear for a while.
In a message dated 6/12/2004 12:27:28 PM Pacific Standard Time,
vpFREE@yahoogroups.com writes:
ยทยทยท
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 02:43:08 -0000
From: "Harry Porter" <harry.porter@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: Do casinos track VP skill?
paisonvp wrote:
Gotta disagree with you on this one, Harry. As casinos increasingly
ditch pure coin-in models in favor of the "mysterious" theoretical
player evaluation systems, they are increasingly engaging in direct
quantitative analysis of each player's skill level. Above all, when
a player's choice of machine and final result (win vs loss) become
significant factors in a casino's determination of that player's
comp and/or cashback level, then that player has been subject to
something far more significant than analysis by inference.
Pete,
I may be splitting hairs here, but I don't think so. On the other
hand, I'm sure I'm close to (or past) beating a dead horse.
......
But, more to the point, efforts that the casinos do make to discourage
players who represent a negative prospect to the casino are crude at
best. Not only do the better players suffer for it, but others do as
well.
It really boils down to the fact that in these casinos if you have a
cumulative profit, whether by wit or shear luck alone, you get
screwed. It's absolutely true that if you're skilled you're more
likely to fall under the axe, but there's no great intelligence at
work here.
Expressing myself in my typical long-winded method, this is what I see
as the bottom line. The casinos have only the vaguest clue about skill.
But it's a no-brainer that when the casinos deem it cost-efficient to
implement skill based analysis software, it'll be a relatively
straightforward initiative. However, skilled players are still small
fries in the larger picture -- not inconsequential, but casinos have
miles to go in more efficiently managing the larger slot player base
... a casual conversation with any slot player provides a quick
reality check on this. Most slot players make it clear that they feel
that they're at the mercy of fickle casinos.
- Harry
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