Euroslot-JUL-AUG09-PG22-28:Layout 1 02/07/2009 10:20 Page 26
TOURNAMENT FEATURE www.euroslot-online.com
“It is clear that those operators that make the effort
to ensure licensees are briefed and promotional
material is used are seeing the benefit. In addition
technical training pays off, this is something that we
have run seminars on over the years in operator depots
that has had enormous benefit,” agrees Kevin Weir.
As an operator Gamestec knows only too well how
important the role is. “We have an extremely
important role in promoting the tournament. It is our
job to communicate information about the
tournaments to licensees and to get their buy in so
they are able to promote it effectively to their
customers,” says Peter Davis.
Funworld gets the operators on board by putting
them in control to a certain extent. “The operators are
very important for the promotion of the tournaments
as they can support it with their personal engagement
most effectively,” says Josef Öhlinger. “Operators can
even organize their own tournaments with the web
based service tool “funservice”. The so called Operator
Cup is set up in no time fairly easy and allows a
rewarding of the winners through the “Local Heroes”
function. To promote their tournaments, operators can
create their own advertisements with the funservice
tool too and use diverse advertising materials like
posters or crowners to raise the player’s attention for
their tournaments.”
the terminals. In addition to that, we also use point of “Operators are the lifeblood of coin-op tournaments TAB’s Siegfried Dattl jr sums up the win/win
play materials like posters, flyers or crowners to and this is a true partnership. Whilst we can provide situation when operators work closely with the
advertise the tournaments. Even stickers, cards or the technology, the network and the back office company to promote tournaments. “Of course it is
teaser CDs are in use for promoting the tournaments,” support, it is the operators who are the men on the important and in their own interests for our customers
says Josef Öhlinger. ground,” says Nick Hardy. “It is they who have the to also announce the tournaments in their pubs and
But undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions to relationship with retailers and it is they who have to inns. Winning prizes, competing against other players
the player is the possibility of beating other players in embrace the opportunity and ‘sell’ this concept at and appearing in the rankings lists is an immense
pursuit of a big prize. In the UK, cash is king and the street level. We work as closely as possible with incentive for players, and the more intensively the
top prize usually stands around £1,000. “In the past operators on tournament development because its venue operator advertises the tournaments, the more
we have offered a range of prizes including activity success is dependant upon their input and support. guests will be aware of the tournament and thus also
days, plasma TVs and meal vouchers. However we The benefits to operators are considerable, and you of the organiser’s inn. This increases the takings
find that customers prefer cash prizes and most of our get out what you put in, so this is a totally integrated enormously and is also an important means of binding
tournaments now offer cash prizes,” says Peter Davis. team effort.” players for the long term.”
For those running international tournaments – prizes
need to be non-cash. Here, companies can offer an
experience of a lifetime as a prize. “The range of prizes
that are given in the tournaments is also an important
success factor and depends, among other things, upon
the type of tournament,” says TAB’s Siegfried Dattl jr.
“From high-quality digital cameras and LCD televisions
to wellness weekends, mountain-bikes and dream
holidays – the prizes are always carefully and suitably
chosen for the tournament. Special highlights are the
tournaments in which a holiday is given away, such as
in our current tournament “Las Vegas 2009“, which
will take the happy winner and a companion to the
gambling Mecca in Nevada for a week.”
Funworld offers credits, vouchers and cups as prizes
for its tournaments and emphasis the “sporting”
nature of its tournament play – with honour and
achievement being key factors. However, the finals of
its Olympics-style international tournaments, held
every few years, usually take place in a holiday resort
and with meals, entertainment and accommodation
provided for international participants, just taking part
for finalists is a prize in itself.
On one aspect of tournament organisation all of our
contributors were in agreement – that of the
importance of the close participation of the operator.
26
JULY/AUGUST 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36