About the training

The course of The Slot Academy is based on the Principles of Total Quality Management. After these principles have been introduced, the focus is on the technical process of operating slot machines in Casinos or Electronic Casinos.

At the very beginning of the course different profiles of visitors to casinos are introduced. What motivates people to visit casinos and what are the expectations of the different types of casino visitors. Throughout the course the focus on the different expectations of the various visitor groups is used as a guideline.

With attendees we ask ourselves the question how to execute a ‘quick and dirty' feasibility study if one wants to open a casino. What are -typically- the expenses and how can one estimate the income. Based on size of population and number of competitors, one can also make an estimation of the number of expected visitors per day and maybe even the expected spending power. With this information one can than decide to open a casino; size, number of machines, expected expenses and income should all be clear at this stage.

Once we know how much to invest, we ask ourselves the question; WHAT do we want to achieve. The goals of the company; the promises to our customers, our staff, the society and our owners. Here we further explore the principles of Total Quality Management; a management style that aims to proof that the promise of the company is being met. We define a Mission Statement with attendees and use this as a guideline throughout the course

* Attendees must answer the question WHY would visitors visit our company, WHY would staff want to work for us, WHY would the regulator grant us a license and last but not least WHY would an investor make funds available. The answers will be in the Mission Statement of the company.

Having defined our Mission Statement; we than define our Organizational Chart and our Business Profile (set of processes that must be executed to operate a casino). One of these processes is the Slots Management Process.

During the rest of the course we will then have a very close look at each step of the Slots Management Process. For each step we ask ourselves the questions:

• Who is responsible

• How should the process step be executed (what input and output documents can be used; with examples of course)

• What Performance Indicators can be used to proof that the process step is under control (control meaning: being executed efficient, effective, flexible and with the right capacity and capabilities of staff).

 

While designing the Slot management process, we will find that activities (process steps ) can be grouped in three categories:

Activities prior to opening the Slot Room (pre gaming date activities; design and preparation activities)

• How do we proof that we have prepared an efficient and effective Slot Room with the right capacity and how do we maintain an efficient and effective slot room.

• How do we know what machines are preferred by the different types of visitor profiles; how important (and what is) volatility.

Activities during the gaming date (operation and marketing activities)

• How do we proof that we execute daily operational activities efficient and effective and how do we prove that our marketing efforts (promotions) contribute to the bottom line result.

Activities after the gaming date (reconciliation and control activities)

• How do we proof that no errors were made during the execution of daily operational activities and during the count and what checks should be performed on periodic basis to prove that the operation is under control.

Actually we design a casino during the course. Attendees are presented with the layout of an ‘empty' casino, and then (in groups) they will define/design the layout of the floor. Questions arise about credit values, machine types, player payback percentages, routing and other operational questions. During these activities attendees have to ask themselves constantly what it is the different visitors profiles expect in a casino. Payout percentages and loyalty programs might appeal to ‘Players', it does not increase the number of ‘Casino Experience Guests' and / or ‘Night Out Visitors'.

Progressive and Mystery Jackpot Management, calculation of pay-tables, designing a slot machine and the Myth and math of games (what is volatility and how important is this for players) are all being addressed.

Marketing of slot machines (how to create ‘wow', preparing slot promotions and calculating the effect of promotions) and how to exceed the expectation of the different visitor profiles that frequent casinos.

• Attendees will understand that the different visitor profiles have their own very specific expectations and characteristics. The marketing approach to the different visitor profiles varies considerably from profile to profile.

Attendees are being taught how to build and maintain a Quality Management System (or Document Control System) during the course. Standard methods of writing Procedures and Instructions (including the use of flow-charts) are being practiced.

The course is highly interactive; attendees work in groups executing tasks, whereby knowledge is exchanged between the attendees (all having different backgrounds)

Attending the course for attendees means that they get insight in all the activities slot management should execute in order to operate slot machines in a normal casino or an electronic casino. Being in a classroom with other slot managers (during the open subscription courses), the issues that keep us all awake will be discussed and solutions to problems found in other countries will be discussed.

The course is attended by a maximum of 25 people; not more than 10 coming from the supplying side of the industry.

The duration of the course is eight and a half days. The first part of the training is Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is a day off and the course continues Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. In total the course lasts 8.5 days and a break of 1 day.

The course ‘costs' attendees one full working week (including the weekends before and after). Attendees fly on Friday prior to the first training day and leave the Sunday afternoon after the last training half day of the training.

Attendees should bring a laptop computer, preferably equipped with Microsoft Office including Microsoft Visio. At the end of the course attendees receive all training documentation on USB.