Royally Flushed

Gifts are great...just not mittens and backpacks.

Lists, lists and more lists!  Best of, worst of, most notable, most notorious.  So as not to be left off the year-end bandwagon, this week we are going to list some New Year’s resolutions we’d like to see the casinos make for 2009.   (Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section.)

To all casinos both large and small; please resolve to stop giving away dumb stuff.  I love “gifts” – quote marks used because we both know I have more than paid for them with my play — but puh-leeze make it something I would even remotely consider using.

For instance, I am the proud owner of Casino Arizona’s latest marketing giveaway — mittens and a scarf.  Uh, did someone miss the Arizona in that name?  If you’re trying to make an impact, wouldn’t you want to give a gift that has some sort of relationship to your business?  Yeah, black mittens and a fuzzy scarf immediately say “Let’s go to the casino…in sunny Arizona” to me.  The month before, a thin “stadium blanket” was the featured free gift.  (This fascination with cold weather is really starting to make me wonder if they know something we don’t and the newest Ice Age is upon us starting in the Arizona desert.)

Or, how about their September back-to-school Casino Arizona backpack?  This one still has me shaking my head — once I quit laughing.  I can just picture little Johnny going off to school with this slung over his shoulder.  Should add some spice to that next parent-teacher conference.

So, here’s some advice to all the casinos thinking about what to give away in 2009:

How about giving away a nice little case to hold my players club cards or a lighted key chain with a four-leaf clover?  Really anything that a.) I would possibly use and b.) isn’t ugly.  (Note that neither suggestion is expensive.)

Marketing people — think about your players.  What would they actually use?  Considering that the average age of casino players is north of 40, you can pretty much bet that backpacks aren’t high on their list of must-have items.

Cash works.  I know it doesn’t have your name emblazoned across the front but trust me, it will get me in the door faster than a pair of mittens or a backpack ever would.

Related posts:

1. More Casino Resolutions for 2009
2. Come Back, Please. We Miss You. Really.
3. Gifts for Casino Fans, Poker Players & More
4. Casino Promotions in Over-Drive to Attract Gamblers
5. Win a Copy of the 2009 American Casino Guide in Our New “Hot Post” Contest!

Tags: "casino gifts", 2009, Casino Arizona, casino giveaways, resolutions