Page 12 - October 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

C ruises, PT Cruisers, Corvettes, Hummers, even a house — and $1 million (!) are just a few of the incredible giveaways Southern California casinos o er and deliver to their players. Yes, you read that right. A fully-furnished house! A cool million! While giving away the house and a million
dollars is not something most casinos do, the practice of casino fun giveaway events is part of doing business, and a casino tradition.
Of course casinos o er high-ticket, sensational give-
aways because they want people to come and play — and play often.
It’s part of promoting their casino. All businesses market and promote their
products and services to get new custom- ers and retain the ones they have. In casinos, the name of the marketing game is to create promotions that are fun, that players will want to play, and that will bring them back again and again. So it’s not unusual to give away highly desirable luxury items:
vehicles — Hummers, PT Cruisers, Corvettes, SUVs, novelty trucks,
Harley Davidson motor- cycles; boats, cruises and vacations, and large
amounts of cash. And in the case of Soboba Casino, a fully-furnished house—and their current promotion for an awesome guaranteed- winner of $1 million!
A typical casino pro- motion culminates, after a period of one or two month’s player participa- tion, in an exciting evening of fun and anticipation, with drawings of the large- ticket items. Hundreds of casino players can be in attendance (since many promotions require win- ners to be present), ever hopeful they will drive, tow, and take home a coveted prize. Some give- aways are even hosted by famous television game
show personalities, such as Monty Hall and Bob Eubanks. ese veteran celebrities know how to build excitement and engage the audience cre-
ating a memorable entertaining evening for everyone. Some promotion events are created on a scale of a theatrical produc- tion: casino hosts in costumes, music, fanfare — all happen- ing, often right on the casino oor.
ere are unique and fun promotions like Barona Valley Ranch’s Keys to
Your Dreams, and Sycuan Resort & Casino’s $250,000
Page 12 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE October 2004