Seminole Casino Coconut Creek Unveils Creative Tycoon Promotion
Casinos around the world search for new and different ways to promote their businesses and make their venues more attractive to gambling patrons. Often, marginally unusual ideas emerge, only to be duplicated ad naseum by competitors. For instance, many casinos are giving away gas for a year, or a tanker of gas, or something along those lines, addressing the rising price of fuel.
Then there are those who have true creativity and inspiration. Steve Bonner, general manager of the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in southeast Florida, has proved to be among the most original thinkers in the casino industry.
Bonner was the man who had a bull's-eye painted on the roof of his venue after the Navy shot a corrupted satellite out of the sky, offering bundles of cash if any of the satellite debris hit the target. Bonner also ran a summer-long promotion, giving away a free trip to outer space to the winner as soon as private companies offer rocket passage to the edge of the atmosphere, thought to be only months away.
That contest was decided on Labor Day, and, although the winner chose to take a cash prize instead, Bonner's reputation as a fresh thinking innovator remained intact.
Now Bonner plans to respond to the gasoline promotions by going a giant step further. Playing "Who Wants to be a Tycoon?", Bonner's casino will give the next winner a choice between taking an existing, operational and producing oil well, or going to a big oil field in Kentucky and naming the spot to drill his own brand new well.
Players' card holders will receive chances in the big drawing based on frequency and amount of play during the course of the contest, with dates to be announced.
Casino promotions work best when they are eye-catching and fun as well as lucrative, and Steve Bonner and Seminole Coconut Creek Casino have shown repeated originality and innovation. During Bonner's time in Coconut Creek, the casino has grown exponentially, from a small slot shack to a premier entertainment complex, featuring live bands, an award-winning buffet, and striking architecture and beauty. If Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, ever makes the mistake of letting Bonner escape, there are quite a few Las Vegas Strip resorts that could use his vision.
