The Casino Marketing & Technology Conference, held in July, has found its place within the gaming industry.

The successor to Casino Marketing Conference, now in its 13th year, the development offers a dedicated technology track customized for casino marketers, along with the conference’s core casino marketing content. The combo proved successful with attendees and exhibitors alike, with greater than 475 people attending the development and 55 companies exhibiting.

A centerpiece of the collection since 2005, the Romero Awards, again anchored the event’s second day. The awards were the brainchild of conference co-founder Dennis Conrad, president and chief strategist, Raving Consulting, who suggested them to the late John Romero after the primary edition of the conference, where  Romero was awarded the primary ever Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award. (For more at the Romeros, see The Back Page column on page 74.)

Other highlights included keynote addresses by Michael Perhaes, corporate vp of marketing, Wind Creek Hospitality, and Kahlil Ashanti, co-founder, SpendSight Technologies; and the presentation of an entire life Achievement Award to Jim Allen, CEO, Seminole Gaming, and chairman, Hard Rock International.

As for the Romeros, over 120 entry submissions were made within the following award categories: Affiliate marketing (Website and Social Media); Electronic Marketing (e-Mail and Mobile); Community Relations (Charity, Cooperative Business Programs); VIP Promotion (for Top-Rated Players); Junk mail Marketing (Single or Campaign); and Casino Floor Promotion.

The judges, who bring greater than 125 years of casino marketing professional experience to the contest, and every of whom was a disciple of John Romero and his 48-year crusade for measurable, accountable casino marketing expenditures, were: Jackie Brett, principal, Brett’s Vegas View; Don Kennedy, player development manager, Primm Valley Casinos & Resorts; Amy J. Price-Fanter, marketing writer, Odds On Promotions; and Jack Breslin, president, Breslin Strategic Marketing. The awards presentation was again ably hosted by Toby O’Brien, president, Toby Talks Marketing.

“We are proud with the intention to continue to honor the life and the pro example set by John Romero with the Romero Awards, that have come to represent excellence in marketing for our industry,” said Randy Green, group publisher, BNP Media Gaming Group. “Our judges were very impressed with the ingenuity showed by a lot of this year’s entries. The awards presentation, which details the ins-and-outs of every winning entry, has become an indispensable learning event for our attendees.”

The list of winners follows:

Casino Floor Promotion

Large Casino

SOBOBA’S WORLD RECORD GOLD RUSH, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, Calif.

SKYCITY, SKYCITY, Auckland Limited, Auckland, New Zealand

WAVES TO RICHES, Wind Creek Hospitality Home Office, Alabama

$200,000 BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT, Wind Creek Casino, Wetumpka, Ala.

$200,000 TREASURES OF THE TITANIC, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, Calif.

BUZZING BLACKJACK, SKYCITY Auckland Limited., Auckland, New Zealand

PENS PROGRESSIVE & LUCKY 7’S FREE SLOT PLAY, Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh, Pa.

BIG MONEY BLUES , Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, Montgomery, Ala.

CANNERY PIN-UP GIRL CAMPAIGN, Cannery Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.

LEAPIN LEXUS PROMOTION - THEMED LEAP YEAR, Wind Creek Casino, Wetumpka, Ala.

CAMP HAPPY , Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

LIVING LARGE IN A TINY HOME GIVEAWAY, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, Calif.

SHOW ME THE MUMMY, Oneida Casino, Green Bay, Wis.

Casino Floor Promotion

Small/Mid-size Casino

FEBRUARY SUITESTAKES, Batavia Downs Gaming, Batavia, N.Y.

WHAT’S NEW AT GOLD EAGLE CASINO GRAND OPENING CELEBRATIONS, Gold Eagle Casino, North Battleford, Saskatchewan

$10K OH MAMA! Shopping Spree, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino,Hallandale Beach, Fla.

BACKYARD BASH, Batavia Downs Gaming, Batavia, N.Y.

BOBBING FOR APPLES, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

CASH CUBE CRAZE, Wildwood Casino, Cripple Creek, Colo.

Community Relations

Large Casino

11TH ANNUAL TAMAL FESTIVAL, Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Ariz.

BET AGAINST HUNGER, Odawa Casino Resort, Petosky, Mich.

MAKE A CHANGE, Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery, Montgomery, Ala.

NEW YEAR’S EVE, Spa Casino Resort, Palm Springs, Calif.

Community Relations

Small/Mid-size Casino

CULINARY CHALLENGE, Wildwood Casino, Cripple Creek, Colo.

Direct Mail Marketing

Large Casino

STAY & PLAY VIP DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGN, Sun International Head Office, South Africa

WIND CREEK REWARDS: THE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016, Wind Creek Hospitality Home Office, Alabama

HOTEL OFFER UNSOLICITED MAIL CAMPAIGN CHANGE, Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Ariz.

Direct Mail Marketing

Small/Mid-size Casino

2ND ANNUAL MILLION PENNY GIVEAWAY, Victory Casino Cruises, Cape Canaveral, Fla.

JULY/NOVEMBER MYSTERY VOUCHER, Batavia Downs Gaming, Batavia, N.Y.

ULTIMATE JACKPOT PARTY, Lake of the Torches Resort Casino, Lac du Flambeau, Wisc.

Electronic Marketing

(e-Mail and Mobile)

Large Casino

2ND ANNUAL MILLION PENNY GIVEAWAY, Victory Casino Cruises, Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Online Marketing

(Website and Social Media)

Large Casino

SOBOBA IS OUT OF THIS WORLD FIRST SLOT MACHINE IN SPACE VIDEO, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, Calif.

WIND CREEK HOSPITALITY PLAYERS OF WIND CREEK CALENDAR, Wind Creek Hospitality Home Office, Alabama

WINNING NUMBERS WATCH PARTY, Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, Hot Springs, Ark.

“ALL SHOOK UP” SOCIAL PROMOTION, FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Battle Creek, Mich.

BRAINS VS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh, Pa.

SCARY-OKE , Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, Hot Springs, Ark.

VIP Promotion Large Casino

VIP CRUISE PROMOTION, FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Battle Creek, Mich.

GRANDWEST GRAND MILLION POINTS CHALLENGE, Sun International Head Office, South Africa

PUT ME IN COACH - VIP SLOT TOURNAMENT, Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Ariz.

VIP 20TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE SLOT CLUB CARDS, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, Calif.

VIP Promotion

Small/Mid-size Casino

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, La.

SINATRA 100TH BIRTHDAY AND PIN PROGRAM, Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, Calif.

DECEMBER DIAMOND/PLATINUM GIFT CALENDAR, Batavia Downs Gaming, Batavia, N.Y.

LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHT , Gold Eagle Casino, North Battleford, Saskatchewan

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]