The states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia are experiencing a reduction of the amount of free slot play in the local casinos. Despite the fact that free play has become quite popular over the past years, the latest fiscal year saw a decline in the amount of free play awarded across the states.
According to the figures presented by the Gaming Control Board, the amount of free play awards reached an amount of $681.2 million across the state of Pennsylvania over the 2012/2013 fiscal year. This amount shrunk to $622.4 million in the fiscal 2016/2017 which ended on June 30th.
When it comes to the state of West Virginia, the total awards given away in the fiscal 2011/2012 amounted to $93.9 million, as revealed by the West Virginia Lottery. In comparison, over the fiscal 2016/2017 the state saw a a decline in the awards granted to local players, with a total of $74.3 million that have been distributed to players.
Manfredi Consulting Report
A number of jurisdictions across the US, including Nevada, do not oblige casino operators to report the exact amount of the awards given away in free play. Still, a gambling market report issued by the privately held San Diego-based agency Manfredi Consulting also includes free-play statistics taken from the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and Ohio. According to the report, it is the state of Nevada which has reported the biggest commercial casino revenue. The state of Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is second when it comes to commercial casino revenue, but holds the lead in the total amount awarded in free play.
According to the report presented by Manfredi Consulting, there were two major factors that could lead to a free-play decline. First, the consulting agency pointed out the fact that casinos depending on disposable income suffered a strong blow over the period of temporary economic decline. As revealed by the agency, some of them might have invested a larger amount of money in various initiatives aimed at attracting customers over the recession period from 2009 to 2011.
The other factor pointed out in the Manfredi Consulting report is the fact that the so-called Baby Boomer generation which has previously been the largest source of slot machines fans, is not so young any more. According to Vince Manfredi, a casino consultant in the agency, the gaming experience provided by slots needs to be changed in a way that would make it more attractive to the younger players. Mr. Manfredi also shared that the experience provided by traditional slots games is not comparable to the experience brought by some other kinds of electronic games.
Mr. Manfredi, explained that slots games that do not force players to pay out of their own cash reserves and maintain fixed assets is one way to attract new customers and also increase the already existing customers’ level of loyalty. Still, he confessed that was not necessarily the best approach that could be used.
The casino consultant further shared that free play at slot machines came at a certain cost to the casino operator, as there normally are some expenses that have to be managed.
- Author
Daniel Williams
