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Punters Love Free Play

In these tough economic times, American land casinos are constantly trying to devise new ways of bringing players to their slot machines. Advertising costs are high, and require a financial investment that may or may not be returned in these months of recession. Giving away lavish prizes like high definition television sets and cars is also a costly venture. Even free dinners and ticket to floor shows require a tangible payout by the casino. That’s why many gambling establishments have turned to free play vouchers as a means of attracting business. Giving away free play credits costs the casino nothing, and requires zero overhead. It’s a promotion that is very attractive to patrons as well, so everyone wins! (Even if they lose.)

The tribal-run Mohegan Sun casino in Mohegan, Connecticut, recently ran a promotion in which slot machine fans were awarded credits of up to five hundred dollars in free play for use on their favorite slot games for correctly predicting the winners of the NCAA college basketball tournament matches currently being played. The blitz will run through the beginning of next week. Just a few days ago, the Borgata of Atlantic City, New Jersey held random drawings for over seven hundred seventy dollars in slot machine credit.

The executive director of marketing operations for Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal stated that free play vouchers are “a big part” of the Taj Mahal’s marketing plan. Rick Casagrande said that the Taj Mahal current uses free play as a “significant” draw for casino customers at the present, and that the resort will expand the promotion for cash-paying customers at a point later this year.

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