Consolidated Casino Media-Management Systems Elevate Marketing

Bally CoolSign® is a single media-management system that links to all message devices throughout the property, and pushes content to each without the need to create multiple versions of the same information. CoolSign communicates information quickly to guests, and enables marketers to drive consistent messages throughout the property. It can also provide content to interactive wayfinding directories and kiosks, back-of-house electronic message boards, in-machine displays, and even mobile devices. Guests on the casino floor and all throughout the property can learn about gaming promotions, food-and-beverage specials, and available packages at sister properties. CoolSign real-time communication also has the ability to generate or increase excitement during game play, a feature Linda Devine, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Barona Resort and Casino in California, has noticed.

“Our guests are certainly more aware of the resort’s promotions since we installed the media management system late last year, and the messages are creating a new level of excitement on the casino floor,” Devine says. “For instance, when they use the media manager to announce a winner for the casino’s Rapid Fire promotion, guests begin asking staff when the next one will begin. Our system contains a content creator that enables us to develop message content on the fly. What used to take us hours to create now takes seconds. And the system resizes the messages and animations for all of our digital-display screens, including our 50-inch monitors, LCD and plasma screens, and message windows on our gaming machines.”

Barona can also establish a series of triggers to generate specific messages. A trigger is simply an external result or event that tells the media-management system to issue a message. For example, if a progressive jackpot machine reaches $50,000, the system issues a notice to all guests. Devine says they create messages that contain graphics, animation and sometimes sound. They’ve done countdowns when they know someone is going to win a promotion, which helps build anticipation and excitement among players.

For casinos, presenting and sharing gaming information that encourages a lucky feeling is vital. The instant-messaging availability helps create the aura of a winning environment for players. This kind of an atmosphere motivates players to stay and play longer. The new Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania installed Bally CoolSign’s media-management system as part of its overall design. Jason Nibauer, Vice President of Brand Marketing, says the casino wanted a system that dynamically presented information to its guests and employees.

The media-management system works with existing products and offers future integration with other communication devices. In addition to using the media-management system on the casino floor and in the food court, the Sands Bethlehem casino communicates information to employees in back-of-house areas. In the staff lunchroom and employee entrances, employees receive news about multiple topics including policies and parking changes. What’s more, the system is tied to the resort’s bus terminal to provide destination and departure information to waiting patrons. Bally customized this feature for the property. “We have a cost-effective, user-friendly system that is expandable, scalable, and simplifies our operations,” Nibauer says. “In addition to installing additional monitors around the resort to further our communication reach, we intend to extend its connections to our conference center and the hotel side.” Media-management systems are more than a just a high-tech communication tool. They are becoming the industry standard for taking casino communication, marketing, branding and guest relations to the next level.