Daniel Hansen
135 pp., 2015, Paperback $14.99
I have often joked that the most enjoyable job in the world is Slot Operations … if only you didn’t have to deal with guests and team members (LOL). That, of course, is impossible, but it does reflect my passion for the science of slot selection, game mechanics, placement and configuration. Done right, these elements can maximize guest satisfaction and profitability at the same time. Accordingly, I am a fanboy of analytical software, statistical packages, competitive research, artificial intelligence, tracking systems, graphical mapping applications and, of course, books on the topic.
But, Casino Slot Analysis Simplified is not for me. It may be for you. Daniel Hansen says in the liner notes: “It is designed for beginners and people who just want a basic understanding of what all the numbers mean. (It) is not for the advanced slot analyst, but for those who just want to learn the basics of how it all works and be able to have a conversation with the numbers.” I agree. With some minor exceptions, it is a good base for non-slot team members.
My copy is dated 2021, but the original copyright is 2015, which makes sense since a few things are out of date. That’s understandable since our industry is constantly in flux. Hansen says WAPs (Wide Area Progressives) are the most common form of participation games. While that was perhaps true prior to ’15, today the tide has generally shifted toward Premium, non-WAP titles on Fee/Day or % of Win models.
The author does mention some axioms that I heartily endorse and a few I don’t. Here’s a gem: “I always pretend I am going to have to explain to someone why the numbers are so crazy. I then work out how I would explain it. I find this mental exercise helps me to better understand the numbers.” This should be mandatory for everyone. If something seems amiss: examine it; understand it and always have a solution or a plan of action ready.
However, just before that section he writes, “I do not advocate official/formal meetings where everybody goes over the documents (meaning the slot stats).” I have often argued that regular formal meetings with upper management (perhaps once a month) are invaluable because they force you to be at the top of your game. You would be surprised at the motivation that not being able to answer a query from a GM or a Senior VP at a monthly meeting can have on your desire to be prepared and to really understanding your numbers.
Again, for non-slot folks, this book is not a bad starter. Here are two more gems: “Start to walk your floor. If you are not doing it regularly. I cannot stress enough that you learn your floor.” While that is basic Slots 101, consistent floor walks can easily disappear from managers’ daily agendas. Another is, “Every machine move and change should be a mix of analysis and beauty; concentrating on one or the other for too long will degrade your floor.” Amen.
Early in this business, slot selections were dominated by gut feel, instinct, and the slot salesperson with the best stories. Advanced analytics were almost non-existent. Today, the pendulum may have swung too far in some cases. A few operators have gone overboard with their analytics. They need to balance that with some more time talking with guests and wearing out the casino carpet (and listening to a good slot salesperson’s stories can’t hurt).
I do have one other complaint about Hansen’s book. When I first started working for Native American operators two decades ago, many of my Nevada colleagues tended to view tribal members, and those who worked with them, as though they’d just fell off the turnip truck. They could not comprehend that a Native American casino could possibly be any good. Today, more than a dozen Native American casinos are at the top of the list of the most productive floors in America, each of them ahead of any and all Nevada operators.
But Hansen makes the opposite mistake. Perhaps unintentionally, he suggests that Native Americans, like himself, have a higher calling and a greater commitment to serving the casino. Perhaps the only area where I think that is valid is in most tribal leaders’ long-range planning. The nature of many corporate-owned casinos calls for maximizing returns quarter by quarter. Most Native Americans tend to focus on generational investment and returns. Other than that, I think good people are good people, regardless of their ancestry or where they work. Each one of them can exhibit drive, determination, loyalty and dedication. That applies to tribal and non-tribal members. The only difficult task is finding, supporting and keeping the best at your casino.
Hansen has written one other book on slot management and a handful of non-fiction works. The book reviewed above is a real bargain, currently on Amazon for $14.99 in paperback. There’s also a Kindle version for $5.99. Unlike some other texts, this book should work well in either format.
You might want to catch my 2018 review of another book that is aimed at those more serious about slot analytics. You can find the link here.
