*as of May 1; subject to change

 Tuesday, July 22

7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Registration Open

7:30 a.m.– 8:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:45 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Player Development Summit (separate registration required)

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception (Tradeshow Floor)

 Wednesday, July 23

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Open

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast (Tradeshow Floor)

8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Introductory Remarks And Conference Overview
Speaker: Dennis Conrad, President and Chief Strategist, Raving Consulting Company

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Opening Keynote Address
Casino Marketing Challenges Worldwide
Dr. Bill Eadington, Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, University of Nevada, Reno
Without a doubt, commercial gaming has spread worldwide in our lifetimes. In fact, it is now hard to find a region in the world where legalized casinos do not exist. And although political and social environments for gaming differ, and although gaming markets are at different developmental stages, casino marketers around the world face similar challenges. How do we find and keep good gaming customers? How can we effectively thrive amidst increasing competition, maturing markets, inhibiting tax and regulatory environments, and sometimes softening or volatile economies? And how can responsible casino marketers secure more discretionary gaming dollars from existing customers without being—or being perceived as—predatory? In this stimulating opening keynote session, these and other burning casino marketing issues will be addressed by one of the global experts on the worldwide commercial gaming industry. Join Dr. Eadington as he shares his casino marketing perspective as only a savvy educator, economist and long-time industry observer can.

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Networking Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Marketing Challenges and Opportunities of the Gaming Floor of the Near Future
CRM Systems. Server Branded Gaming. Downloadable Credits. Bonusing Systems. RFID Technology. Automated Table Game Tracking. And much more. The gaming floor of the future is approaching and in many cases, is already here. But while many have thought this next wave is primarily about operating efficiency, it really is all about marketing – the ability to identify, communicate with, incentivize and better serve our gaming customers. In this stimulating session, you will hear how and why this is happening and how important it is for casino marketers to start having lunch frequently with the casino operators.
Moderator: Marcus Prater, Executive Director, AGEM
Speakers: Charlie Lombardo, President, CL, LLC; Bruce Rowe, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Bally Technologies; Kent Young, President and Chief Executive Officer, True Blue Gaming

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award Luncheon Honoring Ginny Shanks
Join sponsors, attendees, friends and associates in honoring Ginny Shanks, former Senior Vice President of Brand Management for Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. In Shanks’ 25 year career at Harrah’s, she progressed from a junior executive with Harrah’s Reno’s in-house advertising agency (when Harrah’s operated 4 casinos) to the most senior corporate marketing executive responsible for maximizing value of Harrah’s key strategic brands (when Harrah’s operated 49 casinos). She was the key linchpin in Harrah’s transition from the original operations and service culture of Bill Harrah to the modern day international gaming company and marketing juggernaut. She has been the recipient of Harrah’s Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Performance and the company’s Corporate Excellence Award, its highest executive award.

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Networking Break

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Lessons Learned From Diverse Gaming Markets
David Zamarin is the Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Penn National Gaming, Inc. and one of the most experienced casino marketers in the world. Known for his clear thinking and analytical skills, "Dr. Data" has met the diverse marketing challenges in casino markets across the United States, from destination resorts to local casinos, high tax to low tax environments, racinos to casinos, wholly owned operations to managed ones. He is currently responsible for directing and supporting the marketing efforts of Penn National's sixteen casino operations. Whether you want insight into marketing multiple casino properties, thriving in brutally competitive markets, dealing with heavy tax rates and marketing regulations, you'll get it in this "shared lifetime of learning" session with a truly savvy casino marketing guy.
Speaker: David Zamarin, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Penn National Gaming, Inc.

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Networking Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Oh, Those Middle Managers – How to Motivate and Involve Them for Casino Marketing Success
As marketers, you know it happens. You spend hundreds of hours and millions of dollars to have casino customers come in to check you out, to make a return visit, to spend a few more of their discretionary entertainment dollars with YOU. And then – a frowning slot supervisor sends an invited player to the Players Club, because he knows nothing about an evening slot tournament for “VIPs.” A table game supervisor looks at a player’s match play blackjack coupon (sent by your direct marketing department) like it had a strange odor or was counterfeited. A security supervisor has to get on the radio to find out about the new car giveaway, because “they never tell me anything around here.” But do not despair – in this session, the gaming industry’s top motivator and apostle of the concept of “customer worship” will show you how to effectively get those key middle managers in gaming operations to become marketing missionaries instead of marketing malcontents.
Speaker: Steve Browne, President, Raving Service

 Thursday, July 24

7:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Registration Open

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Awards Breakfast: The Romero Awards - Recognizing Excellence In Casino Marketing
Named after casino marketing pioneer and author John Romero, the Romero Awards honor those gaming operators who best fulfill the spirit of John’s 45-year crusade for effective, measurable and accountable casino marketing expenditures. Find out who the expert judging panel, chaired by John Romero himself, selected as winners for their excellence in casino marketing, in a variety of important marketing categories.
Presenter: John Romero, Casino Marketing Consultant, Writer and Lecturer

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Buzz on the Casino Floor: Do You Have It and How Do You Get It?
Marketers know that a casino environment where something is always happening, where winning seems even more than just “possible,” where employee/customer interactions are animated – in short, a casino floor that has a “buzz” – are much easier to sell than a “commodity” gaming experience. But which casinos have “buzz,” how did they get it, and most importantly, how can you inject it on your casino floor as one of the most powerful marketing applications imaginable? You’ll find out in this unique, provocative and fun-filled session.
Moderator: Toby O’Brien, Vice President of Marketing and Client Services, Raving Consulting Company
Speakers: Ken Baker, Special Events and Promotions Project Manager, Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino; Michelle Fouts, Marketing Director, Bronco Billy’s Casino; Deana Scott, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications, Coquille Economic Development Corporation and The Mill Casino, Hotel and RV Park

12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Keynote Luncheon
How NOT to Communicate and Sell Your Casino Marketing Message to Casino Management
Don McMillan, Principal, Technically Funny
Don McMillan’s corporate show utilizes his unique background to take a light-hearted look at computers, technology, and the high-tech life. His presentation at Casino Marketing 2008 will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
How Sporting Events Can Drive Business for Your Casino
Al Bernstein is an American writer, stage performer, recording artist, radio host and boxing analyst who has been a significant part of major sporting events at casinos worldwide for the past several decades. Not only has he seen how casinos execute and market major sporting events to drive revenue, but he possesses uncommon insight into the multi-faceted strategies of how sports contests can be an effective part of the marketing mix for all kinds of casinos in all kinds of markets. He shares his uncommon wisdom in this knockout session.
Speaker: Al Bernstein, Noted Television Boxing Analyst

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Best (And Worst) Casino Promotions of 2008
For 12 years now, Dennis Conrad has been releasing his annual list of the best and worst promotions that our industry has to offer. Not to be confused with the prestigious Romero Awards, Dennis’ annual kudos and slams are an attempt to spot the hidden treasures and nuggets of untapped opportunities in the casino marketing world, as well as deservedly diss the doofuses who succeeded only in creating a stupid marketing result (but at least a powerful learning experience). Join Dennis once again in this unauthorized but honest awards ceremony, based on information gained not only from his own extensive experiences as a consultant and casino player in the last year, but also from an unparalleled network of casino snitches, er, sources. Laughter will be once again flowing freely, but Dennis’ candid and razor-sharp marketing insight will have you furiously taking notes on the marketing wisdom and the marketing no-no’s that only the Best (and Worst) can provide.
Speaker: Dennis Conrad, President and Chief Strategist, Raving Consulting Company

Keynote Speaker Bill Eadington

Keynote speaker Don McMillan

John Romero