To the savvy Illinois video gaming business owner, cashout vouchers are more than just slips of paper that winners use to redeem their winnings – they’re also excellent promotional tools!

Breathe new life into those cashout vouchers that would have otherwise been left behind, thrown away, or ignored by using them to promote the slot machines and video games at your location and attract more guests to take a spin. Here’s how you can revamp your cashout vouchers into marketing tools and promote Illinois video gaming at your restaurant, bar, or establishment:

Post Photos & Videos on Social Media of Slot Machine Cashout Vouchers

Posting images on social media of big winners proudly showing off their cashout vouchers is an excellent way to bring attention to your slot machines and Illinois gambling machines. These posts on social media will help display the benefits of playing video slot machines at your bar or restaurant. Posting an image a day may encourage guests to come on over and try their luck! While posting images of big winner tickets alone is effective, posting a picture or better yet, a video, of a big winner with their casino cashout voucher is even more authentic, believable, and impactful.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a triple-threat picture of the machine win, winning cashout voucher, and the big winner with their earnings? And if you’re not lucky enough to get that shot, simply having the hot ticket is enough to let your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter followers know your video slot machines are on fire.

However, before you begin to post and tweet about winning cashout vouchers, remember that not all folks are keen on ending up on social media. Some people are uncomfortable enough about getting their photos taken by strangers; they’re even less interested in their images or videos being posted on the Internet for the whole world to access. So before you post photos of people on social media, be sure to ask their permission first and respect their privacy if they decline.

The good news is that while there are folks who choose to remain quiet about their big wins at the slot machines, there are those who are more than willing to share the exciting news with everyone! Be camera-ready to capture these big moments!

The fun doesn’t stop there! Is it a holiday? Don’t forget to incorporate that! Or ask the big winner to give your establishment a shout-out while holding your menu or wearing a baseball cap with your company logo. Promote it all! Before you post, add an inviting, witty caption that lets people know they could be the next big winner.

Provide a “Ticket TIPS” Bucket For Gamers That Do Not Use Their Cashout Vouchers

A “Ticket Tips” Bucket is an excellent way for your staff to make a little extra cash and keep guests engaged with your video slot machines and Illinois video gaming services. Often, casino cashout vouchers are mere cents, and you’d be surprised by how many guests/gamers don’t bother cashing them out. Instead of letting them go to waste, why not give them to the folks that help keep the business running day in and day out? At the end of the shift, have the employees split the cashout vouchers bucket by their hours worked.

Don’t forget to let guests know that the cashout vouchers they don’t cash out go to sweetening the lives of the people who love to serve them whenever they visit. It’ll make them feel good knowing they’re showing their gratitude and appreciation to the staff at your Illinois video gaming and gambling establishment. You might even want to mention how supporting the “Ticket TIPS” Bucket may turn their luck around.

Promote a Ticket Donation Bucket at Your Illinois Video Gaming Location

Many Illinois video gaming establishments already make this happen around the Holiday Season with things like “Toys for Tots.” So what’s stopping you from doing it all year round? Nothing. In fact, a permanent Cashout Voucher Donation Bucket is a fantastic way to promote generosity all the months of the year! After all, there’s always someone celebrating a birthday, a promotion, an engagement, or a significant event in their lives that makes them feel grateful enough to pay it forward.

Again, small tickets are usually what makes it into the bucket as people don’t bother cashing out small wins from video slot and gambling machines. However, every once in a while, you’re bound to have a generous do-gooder that’s willing to hand out their big win for a good cause. This gives gamers another great reason to game at your Illinois video gaming establishment – they’re gaming for the greater good! Be sure to market it this way and encourage people play your video slot machines and give back.

Create a ‘Wall of BIG WINNINGS!’ at Your Slot Machine & Gaming Establishment

A ‘Wall of Big WINNINGS’ is an excellent idea for video gaming locations where redemption machines don’t eat the cashout vouchers. For those locations with redemption machines that DO eat the cashout vouchers, simply ask your technicians to give you a minute to pull out those big wins when they come to collect!

Your ‘Wall of Big WINNINGS’ is an excellent way to utilize cashout vouchers that would have typically gone in the garbage! It doesn’t cost a whole lot to display your players’ casino cashout vouchers and wins either. All you really need is a corkboard and some push pins. Proudly display those big wins, sit back, and watch as curiosity draws potential new players in to check out the dollar amounts others have claimed while playing at your Illinois video gaming location. Your ‘Wall of Big WINNINGS’ will surely catch the eyes of guests and gamers alike, encouraging them to take a spin too!

Host a Sweepstakes at Your Gaming Location

Want to say thank you to your regulars? Hosting a sweepstakes around your Illinois gambling machines is a great way to reward your loyal gamers. Come up with a grand prize giveaway and use cashout vouchers as entry forms during a specified entry period. But keep in mind, a free method of entry must also exist to qualify as a legal sweepstakes. Check out our sweepstakes blog here HERE more details on how to run things legally.

And the verdict is…

Being proactive and using the casino cashout vouchers at your Illinois video gaming location is a simple but effective way to send a positive message to the right people. Winning tickets show that your video slot machines are hot and let potential gamers know that your Illinois gambling location had some big winners. It’s time to let them know they could be next!

So, you want to host a big giveaway event at your location? That sounds like a great idea! It’s an interactive way to promote your establishment and its video slot machines. Hosting a giveaway at your Illinois video gaming location is also an excellent way to increase traffic and gather guests’ information, all while giving back to your loyal customers and gamers! But before you take any steps to start the process, we need to go over some vital information to ensure everything involved remains valid and legal.

There are a handful of considerations when planning and conducting your giveaway at your bar, restaurant, establishment, and Illinois video gaming location. Let’s take a look at what you need to know and the actions you need to take before you get the ball rolling.

A Raffle is Not the Same As a Sweepstakes

Raffles raise money through the selling of tickets, which are drawn at random to determine a winner. Whoever has the winning ticket receives a specified prize.

Companies generally host raffles for fundraisers and other similar events, but Illinois law has numerous restrictions on these drawings. The Raffles and Poker Runs Act states an organization must secure a government issued license prior to holding any type of event with a raffle.

These licenses are only available to non-profit organizations (charities, veteran programs, schools, religious institutions, etc.). Even when a non-profit is able to obtain the necessary paperwork, there are still restrictions on the cost per raffle ticket and how much the prizes can be worth.

Whatever proceeds are made from these raffles is required to go directly to the organization holding the event and not to any personal parties. It is highly unlikely that a non-charity, such as a bar or a restaurant with video slot machines, would be able to obtain a raffle permit. Therefore, it would be illegal for most Illinois video gaming locations to conduct a raffle.

Conduct a Sweepstakes Instead

Alternatively, Illinois video gaming locations with video slot machines may host a sweepstakes. This is a legal and viable option for any bar, restaurant, arcade, or establishment so long as the primary sweepstakes rules and regulations are properly created and adhered to. An illegal lottery (or raffle) becomes a sweepstakes when one of the following elements are eliminated:

• Prize – Anything of value to be awarded to the winner(s).
• Chance – A process of randomly selecting a victor.
• Consideration – The form of entry to the contest, either by monetary or non-monetary means.

“Consideration” will usually be eliminated to increase participation in a drawing for a prize rather than a game of skill. This can be done by allowing anyone that’s eligible to enter for free, or by adding a free method of entry into the sweepstakes.

Set the Sweepstakes Rules

To continue down the legal pathway toward your sweepstakes with Awesome Hand Gaming, it’s important to distribute the rules to those who wish to participate at your Illinois video gaming location. Let’s take a look at a few of the key things to point out when establishing the sweepstakes rules.

1. Procedures

This should include eligible entry dates and times, as well as the entry methods people can use to join the sweepstakes at your Illinois video gaming location.

2. Sponsorship

Whether this is you or a third-party, the name and address of the event sponsor must be clearly listed on the rules.

3. No Purchase Necessary

This is legal jargon that must be included somewhere within the rules for participation.

4. Drawing Details

Along with the entry dates, you must note who will conduct the drawing(s), where the drawing(s) will occur, and when the drawing(s) will take place. Share key details such as whether participants must be present to win the prize.

5. Eligibility

You must include any restrictions for age, employee eligibility, and whether or not family members are able to participate.

6. Prizes

Here you will list the odds of winning, any and all available prizes, estimated prize values, and how the winner(s) collect the prize(s). You should also mention if participants are responsible for shipping/handling fees involved in delivering the prize.

7. Use of Disclosed Information

This section essentially discloses to the participants that their disclosed information will be treated as non-confidential, alongside the reasons the event sponsors will use that disclosed information during the sweepstakes and after it’s completed. Without this section, information must remain confidential.

8. Facebook Disclosure

Similar to the use of disclosed information, this will list basic details about Facebook confidentiality and disclosure, and will relieve Facebook of any association with the sweepstakes.

9. Miscellaneous

Use this area to list any additional rules and to state that both the sponsor and any participants are bound to each of these regulations.

Be sure to take a look at our example of sweepstakes rules. You can also review the specific wording used in the Raffle and Poker Runs Act to ensure your event doesn’t fall into this illegal category.

Need More Info About Running a Sweepstakes?

Do you have more questions about what qualifies as a sweepstakes or what the rules are? Would you like to host a sweepstakes at your bar, restaurant, or establishment to promote your video slot machines? Call your marketing representative to learn more about the rules and regulations you must follow. Our team can assist you in setting up your own sweepstakes and helping you come up with marketing ideas that will boost traffic to the event.

Contact us to learn more about how to host a sweepstakes at your establishment.

Acquiring gamers is one thing; keeping them is an entirely different animal. Consider Awesome Hand your gamer retention ringleaders.

You know your location, we know the gamers. At Awesome Hand Gaming, we’ve had to pair our marketing expertise with our locations’ industry knowledge to come up with a strategy that gets gamers in the door and keeps them there. Gamers should not be overlooked in your customer retention and loyalty programs. They are active participants in increasing the long-term financial success of your location. Not only can one-time gamers easily turn into repeat paying customers; they can also become brand ambassadors of your location who induct more gamers into your “sales funnel,” so to speak.  

Countless studies have found these bottom-line facts about customer loyalty:

• Increasing patron retention rates by 5% can increase profits by 25-95%.

• 55% of loyal customers tell their friends and family about businesses they like and frequent

Sound like something you could get on board with? Good. Us too. That’s why we’ve rounded up our best tips for helping our locations boost gamer retention.

#1: Build relationships with your gamers.

It’s the simple, basic facets of life that make the most impact. Spend time building relationships with your gamers to get to know their likes, dislikes, favorite games, favorite drinks, or even that they just want to be left alone. Familiarizing yourself with your gamers’ behavior will help you personalize your approach to gamer marketing.

#2: Create a gamer-friendly atmosphere.

Making your gaming area more enjoyable and interactive for gamers adds another piece to the gamer-retention puzzle. Calling attention to the fact that you have a gaming area is step one. Advertising it through outdoor signage, on your marquee, and inside the building will easily direct gamers towards what will be their favorite part of any bar or restaurant. Rotating decor according to the season will also help the gaming area stand out amongst the usual bar fare.

Once you’ve beckoned them in, make every detail count. Features like purse hangers, side tables, and complimentary snacks to keep their attention will increase the likelihood they’ll stay playing for longer.

#3: Encourage gamer feedback.

Why not go straight to the source? If you want to know how to improve your gaming area, ask gamers directly! Put a suggestions box/jar near gaming machines to probe customers about what would make them stop and play. You could even make a game out of it: “If ___ many people stop, play this game, and sign their name here [on a sign-in sheet], we’ll make our staff members do (insert hilarious prank here).” It’s a great opportunity to humiliate promote your staff on social media for an engagement boost!

#4: Provide incentives.  

We can all pretty much agree that free food will help get people to show up just about anywhere. Complimentary snacks or menu items on certain days in the gaming area – on the condition that guests play the games – is a win-win: they’ll be able to sample both the games and your food. Baseball season is here – have you thought about hosting a cookout with the quintessential ballpark favorites? Pair them with some drink specials and free slot play and you’ve got yourself a themed event all kinds of customers will enjoy.

Here’s another great tip: ask AHG for help with our AHG Loyalty Punch Cards! For every 10 punches on your card, you can earn free slot play. There’s also the AHG Platinum Player App, which offers rewards and AHG merchandise to frequent patrons of AHG locations. Offer your gamers these options to raise awareness of reasons they should keep playing.

#5: Embrace the power of social media.

Social media is no longer a bonus; it’s vital. Statistics show that 95% of online adults aged 18-34 follow a brand via social networking. In addition, visual content is more than 40 times more likely to get shared on social media than other types of content. You know what this means? The more you post and engage with gaming customers on social media, the more they will feel valued as a part of your business. This will also be echoed to the community at large.

Awesome Hand Gaming urges all locations to utilize media assets to promote the location’s gaming areas. Facebook Live videos of events, IG stories, pictures of big winners or big win tickets, location updates, customized Snapchat filters, staff bios, online polls; the options are endless for creating and sharing experiences with gamers online.

Ready to speak the “language of loyalty?” Contact the Awesome Hand Gaming marketing team to get moving on gamer retention!

Are you taking advantage of everything AHG has to offer? Hit the ground winning this year, compliments of AHG!

Awesome Hand Gaming locations have loads of complimentary marketing methods right at their fingertips. From print material to digital advertising, we will ensure you know how to access and utilize everything we provide to reach your full gaming potential this year.

Here are some ways you can use AHG to have an awesome 2018!

Standard Promo Material

Do you need standard gaming signage? We’ve got you covered! Our giant feather flags and banners are sure to grab potential guests’ attention as they walk or drive by your establishment. In our opinion, the bigger, the better! Our posters can also be hung throughout the venue to remind guests to try their luck.

AHG Website

Every Awesome Hand Gaming location is listed on three pages of our website: the map page, the city page, and your establishment’s individual page. We encourage you to frequent your location’s individual page on our website to ensure all your establishment’s information remains up to date. Scroll through our map page, find your establishment, and click “Learn More” to be directed to your individual page.

AHG Platinum Players Mobile App

Unless requested otherwise, every Awesome Hand Gaming location is on our Platinum Players Mobile App. You are listed under the ‘locations’ icon, where guests can read about your location and learn your hours, address, phone, etc. Guests can also earn points at your establishment under the ‘loyalty’ icon. Every location has its own unique four-digit code for checking in a guest. This code is NOT to be given to the guest; rather, it should be typed directly into their phone. Guests can redeem those points for coupons and discounts at select AHG locations, or for AHG merchandise. Our Platinum Player postcards have step-by-step directions for using the app, and our Platinum Player posters display popular AHG merchandise offered.

Social/Web

Awesome Hand Gaming’s Verified Location Badge is available to inform guests that your establishment is a verified gaming location. Simply insert the badge at the footer of your website and hyperlink to awesomehandgaming.com. Contact our team if you need some help!

Need some classy gaming designs for your Facebook page? Check out our social media assets page to find cover photos and timeline posts designed and sized specifically to help advertise your slot machines via Facebook. You’ll also find some helpful tips and tricks to make the most of your social media pages. For example, here are some tips for incorporating gaming into your social media to engage and attract more gamers to your page!

Legality Assistance

Peace of mind is truly priceless. With AHG, you can advertise without worrying about fines – or worse, losing your license. Our team is constantly evaluating regulation changes as they relate to our locations. We make it easy to stay updated by sending reminders through e-blasts, social media, and our blog.

Check out our downloadable documents regarding raffles, sweepstakes, and gambling do’s/don’ts. Remember: if you’re ever unsure if something is legal or not, please reach out to us! We will cut through the confusing jargon and give you a clear, correct answer.

Don’t limit yourself in 2018! The Awesome Hand Gaming Marketing Team is always available to help with your custom marketing needs.

Contact us today! 

It can be a challenge to get followers to interact with your business’s Facebook page. As soon as a consumer feels like they are being sold something, they start scrolling. It’s the modern day version of hanging up on solicitors. Click. Something to keep in mind for your social media account is that it’s not like filling in an ad space. It has to be fun, visual, and SOCIAL. How can you get people commenting and interacting with your posts if they don’t invoke a response or thought? Here are five pointers to help engage your gamers on Facebook.

Promote YOUR Gaming Rewards

Do you participate in a Loyalty Punch Card Reward Program? Let’s say you give out free slot play on Mondays between 10 am and 4 pm or maybe guests that purchase the lunch special of the day receive $5 in free slot play with their meal. You probably offer gamers free soda or coffee while they’re gaming. Let your followers know! This is the type of advertising that is well-received because it’s focusing the attention on the consumer. What are you giving them? What features does your gaming parlor have?

Post Pictures of Winners and Winning Tickets!

Let your gamers know when your slots are hot! Whether it’s $100 or $1,000, guests want to see that they can win big at YOUR location! If the winner is up for it, include their smiling faces with their winning ticket! This also adds a personal connection to your social media account. People love seeing the experience your location has to offer by viewing real gamers using it.

Tag Awesome Hand Gaming

Whether it’s a picture of your private gaming room, a video of your players, or a winning ticket, TAG US, your favorite terminal operator in Illinois! Not only do we love to see all the awesomeness happening at our locations, but we want to share your location’s success with our followers, too! Plus, it prompts us to engage directly on your page. This is an easy way to increase your social media traffic.

Start Posting Videos

Many of you already know how engaging videos can be on Facebook, but for those of you that don’t, give it a go! For gamers that aren’t camera shy, record them and their game of choice when they’ve reached an exciting feature like Fever Games or Bonus Rounds. The sound of coins clinking, money singing. and flashing visuals will intrigue followers to click on your video clip.

Share Awesome Hand Gaming’s Facebook Posts

Utilizing Facebook has helped Awesome Hand Gaming become one of the leading terminal operators in Illinois. We love to mix it up with sports, slots, and even a little comedy. Most importantly, we love to post about our locations, which means…YOU! When we talk about watching a game at one of our sports bars or celebrating the Holidays by trying their luck, share, share, share!

For more tips or updates on what Awesome Hand Gaming is up to, check out our blog page or visit our Facebook page and other social media platforms.