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Rich
Lehman, who’s been in the casino business more than 20 years,
has written a book that cannot be more timely, as the gaming industry
continues to rely more and more on slot machine revenue and as more
players flock to the machines for hopes of the “Big Jackpot”
or an occasional bell ringer to keep them in action.
Slot Operations
(The Myth and the Math) (188 pages, hardbound, $50) answers
questions which have been asked by casino designers and operators
for generations - including the all-important factor of proper floor
design techniques which equate to making the customer feel confident,
secure, happy, which leads to customer loyalty and return business.
One of the six
major sections is devoted to the job description and responsibilities
of slot department personnel staff. This includes change persons,
booth cashier, slot floor person, slot shift manager, technicians,
slot repair manager, club manager and supervisor, marketing manager,
slot manager, slot director and slot analyst.
Lehman then
moves to Policies and Procedures where he covers procedure manuals,
which must have details on reporting and withholding whenever jackpots
are hit, and this includes Keno, Caribbean Stud and Let It Ride,
plus giveaway and drawing prizes. And they all vary slightly because
a winner may or may not be a U.S. citizen. The section on Cash Control,
Check Cashing (including Traveler’s Check and Cashier’s
Checks) is vital; and this includes a list of types of checks that
are not to be cashed.
What is the
procedure for Overages and Shortages? Also, what about Revenue Accounting
and Accountability plus Control of Slot Change Banks; the Slot/Currency
Drop/Count and the Slot Coin Drop/Count? The book answers these
and questions about Hand Pay Jackpots and Hopper Fills which meet
all regulatory reporting requirements (leading to quick guest payouts
with a minimum of disruption of play and minimum down time).
Without proper
Key Controls, any casino is vulnerable to theft or fraud. Lehman
moves next to Machine Lock Policy, proper use of security tape to
protect the programmable chip in each machine; what to do about
unattended minors; later explaining the all-important and often
misunderstood Hold Percentage.
Clearly this
is a management must-read, must-have book. I’d be willing
to guess that many top management people are still in the dark about
this crucial area of revenue generation and many a future promotion
or demotion will hang in the balance unless the full picture is
understood by those in the $300 or more suits.
Books reviewed
here are available from Gambler’s Book Shop, 630 South 11th
Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101. You may order using a Master Card,
VISA or Discover card (no American Express accepted) by calling
1-800-522-1777 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through
Saturday. You may also order via the store’s web site at www.gamblersbook.com
anytime, using the credit cards indicated, where you may also view
another 1,000 books in 30 other areas of gambling, plus videos and
computer software. |
