CR83-p26-Poker:SJC-Casino Review 23/8/09 02:02 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
ESPN renews WSOP deal
The World Series of Poker and ESPN
Poker
are extending their deal to televise
poker’s richest tournament through
2017. ESPN has been broadcasting
WSOP tournaments since 2003, and
the new seven-year agreement
SECTOR OVERVIEW begins in 2011. Financial terms
were not disclosed.
No room for complacency
As the shape of the global poker industry continues to evolve, it stands to reason that at any one time some
markets will be experiencing more growth than others. It remains clear, however, that finding new ways to
stimulate sector growth remains key for operators the world over. James Walker reports.
Treasure Patrick
Island’s Paul Kennedy
Treasure Island’s poker room Johnson Perkinson
sectorshorts been going down compared on the floor in October of our major money makers in especially due to the fact that the-line video entertainment
WORLD to previous year.” 2005 but now has levelled off the casino when compared to poker tables traditionally take and sound to make the guest
While the Grand Casino and remains consistent.” traditional table games. Cur- less revenue than slots or feel like they’re in luxury on
Despite its continued popu- Helsinki is fortunate enough Yet just as the poker indus- rently, we have seen a 450 per other casino table games. the tables,” Perkinson said.
larity, the fiscal growth of not to have any domestic com- try in the US and many Euro- cent increase from the first “Our Minnesota poker “Custom designed tables, fur-
poker is steadying in many petition when it comes to live pean countries is currently year we started with Texas room was originally designed niture and technology have all
casino markets around the poker, Räsänen said opera- spluttering, so too it is growing Hold’em in our casino and it with poker players in mind,” directly contributed to the
world. Indeed, operators tions were suffering because in others. “Poker is thriving in continues to be more exiting Johnson said. “The set up and value or guest experience for
across many regions that had of increased competition all corners of the country at and interesting to our tourist how it is presented is very our poker room. When a guest
become mainstays of the against all other forms of the moment,” said David clientele as well as a big money appealing. Poker players can walks into the casino they are
industry since its most recent entertainment. “These days Hickson, managing director of maker for the casino. It cur- also earn points on their Island immediately confronted with
boom at the start of the decade players are more willing to the Golden Horseshoe, the rently resides in terms of Passport club cards and the the poker area, and with it
have now noted a slowdown, travel abroad after a poker facilities management revenue right under blackjack points can be redeemed for being of slightly different
as many factors, including event, so we are also facing company to the Fitzwilliam for us, and that in itself is pretty cash, food or merchandise. architecture and having nice
increased acceptance of non- the international competi- Card Club in Dublin, Ireland. considerable. Treasure Island works hard to entertainment experience it
casino gaming platforms and tion,” he said. “While it is true to say that leg- “Due to the amount of give poker players what they quickly becomes attractive.
the more general economic Along with Scandinavia, the islation is out of date, particu- revenue produced, we have want in terms of environment, “In the short term we will
downturn, continue to erode US has been at the forefront of larly with the advent of online doubled the size of our poker challenging tournaments and continue with the guest satis-
revenue streams. the poker boom, and Paul poker, there is a great selec- room this year. And by all big payouts. These options are faction aspect of the game and
“Slot machines represent Johnson, director of gaming tion of poker events for accounts it is paying off, with very appealing to the players.” in the mid-term for us it’s
roughly two-thirds of our for Treasure Island Resort and players to take part in.” an already 34 per cent increase Despite the fact that the locking down the Russian
income and table games one- Casino in Minnesota, US, noted Africa often falls under the on overall revenue generated poker operations of Sinai market, as Egypt is one of the
third,” said Jukka Räsänen, a similar trend in 2009. “Slots radar when it comes to poker, compared with last year.” Grand Casino continues to few places the average Russian
poker manager at the Grand are generally the clear-cut but Patrick Kennedy Perkin- While it is only natural that grow at an exceptional rate, can vacation quite easily. The
Casino Helsinki, Finland, “But winner when it comes to gen- son, spokesperson for Sinai some markets are currently the group continues to imple- increase of Russian players is
poker now amounts to just 15 erating revenue and player Grand Casino in Egypt, said experiencing more growth, it ment more ideas to make its still not an indicator of things
per cent of our income for rewards, with black jack revenues have more than remains clear that all opera- poker area a better, more lux- to come, but it is a solid strat-
table games. From 2005 to coming in second,” he said. quadrupled in the past three tors continue to look for new urious place to play. egy of this company to market
2008 poker action tripled in “Poker play has actually years. ways to optimise the perform- “We have created a nice and host events directly
our casino, but 2009 it has declined since being placed “Poker is becoming one of ance of their poker rooms, large poker area with top-of- catered to this market.”
Know when to Hold’em
Leading casino table
sectorgrowth those in previous versions of has also become popular in north- Clarke explained: “As an
manufacturer Abbiati
ABBIATI casino poker, where the player ern Cyprus and Romania, and example, casinos in Las Vegas
was playing against the casino Greece will be another strong have seen exponential growth of
has seen a big Abbiati, the Italian manufac- and now plays against other market, once the gaming com- the casino poker rooms. A few
increase in Texas
turer of quality casino equip- players around the table, but also mission there has approved the years ago the poker rooms only
Hold’em penetration
ment, has experienced a large to internet and televised Texas licence for Casino Stud Poker.” consisted of 15 to 20 tables, and
increase in the demand for Hold’em tournaments, such as Abbiati, which manufactures a now some casinos have an excess
over recent years.
casino Texas Hold’em poker the World Series of Poker. full-range of casino products and of 100 tables. With the increasing
tables on both sides of the “Most of our customers started remains a key bellwether for the number of tournaments and
Atlantic over the last four years. with a minimum of one or two poker sector, said it has seen no prize money, this growth will
According to commercial tables and have now ordered addi- downturn in the popularity of poker continue. We have also seen an
director Terry Clarke, the popu- tional poker tables due to the and was adamant that the game will increase in the number of poker
larity of Texas Hold’em is due popularity of the game,” Clarke continue to grow worldwide in card clubs that are expanding
not only to the different rules as said. “In the last 12 months, poker the coming months and years. throughout UK and Europe.”
GAMING MEDIA PARTNER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OFFICIAL
AWARDS PUBLICATION
2008
WINNER
26 September 2009 • pokerreport
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