Ever since the concept of so-called ‘skill-based’ gaming concepts emerged a few years back, there have been conversations surrounding how casino operators should go about transforming their casino floor into more of an adult-focused arcade room to attract a younger demographic.
In October, the industry will get to hear directly from a man who has successfully built a continent-wide business based on doing just that: offering dynamic, skill-based and arcade-style family entertainment.
Stephen King, chief executive officer of Dave and Buster’s – the restaurant and entertainment chain which features an arcade-style gaming floor in every location, will give a keynote presentation to the 2017 Global Gaming Expo on October 4th at 9:00am.
King will discuss how, upon assuming leadership of the company from its founders in 2006, he was able to grow the enterprise into a household brand across North America by creating fun, dynamic environments that attract younger players and families.
After first launching in an empty 40,000 square foot warehouse in Dallas in 1982, the company has since expanded to more than 90 locations across the United States and Canada. Its facilities offer a wide array of entertainment for families that include arcade games – and the opportunity to redeem winnings for prizes, food and beverage selections, parties and special events and sports-viewing.
That ethos, as it turns out, lines up in many ways with the direction that the casino industry is currently headed – namely, diversifying away from just gambling toward offering a multiplicity of other forms of entertainment for all types of patrons.
“The parallels between the current evolution of the casino gaming industry and the core of Dave and Buster’s continued success is quite compelling,” said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the American Gaming Association, which co-owns G2E in conjunction with Reed Exhibitions.
In particular, Dave and Buster’s has proven quite successful at drawing the coveted millennial demographic – guests between the ages of 21 and 39, something that casinos are desperately striving to do but have had mixed results with, at best.
King, who previously spent 22 years with TGI Friday’s parent company roles as high ranking as chief financial officer, figures to be able to give the gaming industry a fresh jolt in the arm as it relates to providing a top-notch customer experience.
In particular, he will speak to how Dave and Buster’s can serve as a model for how casinos can embrace so-called integrated resorts – properties that offer gambling and serve as fun, dynamic and entertaining venues.
“Stephen has invaluable expertise on how to create a high-energy environment where guests eat, drink and play all in one place, while staying relevant to the entire spectrum of generations,” said Freeman.
Since going public in 2014, Dave and Buster’s share price has surged from $17.28 to as high as $68.90 earlier this year before closing on Friday at $50.95.
