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INSIDE GAMING: Changing Channels, Shifting Perspective21 March 2005LAS VEGAS -- News analysts in Los Angeles have a starkly different take on tribal gaming in California than newscasters in Las Vegas. A network affiliate in Los Angeles recently ran a segment, based partly on man-in-the-street interviews, saying tribal casinos are great for anyone wanting to play some slots and get a steak. For entertainment, fine dining, shopping or real gambling, however, Las Vegas is without peer, the report suggested. Days later, a Las Vegas station ran a segment claiming tribal casinos rival the Strip. Maybe the contrast is just part of the inevitable superficiality of electronic news. At the same time, the approach that locals casinos -- and in California that means tribal casinos -- take toward advertising couldn't be more similar. Take almost any of the tribal television ads for the newer casinos in the sunny Southland and you could easily trade it for a Station Casinos or Boyd Gaming Corp. commercial spot running on local stations. Notice none of the finer destination resorts advertise seriously in either market. The locals customers live far from their home base. Marketing gurus say Las Vegas developer Steve Wynn's advertising campaign for his new resort is a huge success. How can they tell? By the thousands of visitors lined up at the intersection of The Strip and Spring Mountain Road with telescopes focused on the roof where the casino developer was filmed atop the "only resort he ever signed." That's reminiscent of Henry Ford claiming that the name on his automobile company and on his cars gave him bragging rights. Forbes magazine says competitor Sheldon Adelson is plotting to have the last laugh on the ad front. Adelson told writer Matt Miller he plans a television ad blitz poking fun at Wynn's ad showing the developer standing on top of his new "signature" Wynn Las Vegas resort. From the foundation of his new Palazzo across the street, Adelson plans to strike a pose and declare to viewers: "Putting your heart into your hotel is more important than putting your name on it." What is it between these two? In the Forbes article, Miller said simply: "The two men detest each other." Why? Petty disputes. Catch this, if you missed the article. Adelson called Wynn "a liar" and "an egomaniac" who dismisses other people's ideas and gets too much credit for reinventing Las Vegas as a family attraction and convention mecca. "He's just demeaning." Wynn, however, explained: "Sheldon has an inferiority complex. He gets very upset when someone is standing in his way. And when Sheldon gets angry, he attacks." If they were pit bulls, they'd be euthanized. The Inside Gaming column is compiled by Gaming Wire Editor Rod Smith. He can be reached by e-mail at rodneysmith1@aol.com, by phone at 338-9653 or by fax at 387-5243. Copyright GamingWire. All rights reserved. |