Ways To Increase Casino Revenue

• How To Increase Casino Revenue
• Ways To Increase Casino Revenues

1. The most powerful tool to directly increase your gaming revenue is to diffuse scent in your club.
2. Once you settle on your goals, things get much easier. A good marketing calendar has balance, a mixture of mass and targeted promotions. Sometimes the goal is to see a big bump in revenue; other times the goal is to boost a certain demographic or daypart. Targeted promotions can also elbow their way in front of the competition.

(Times photo - Leigh T. Jimmie)

President Ben Shelly answers questions from a Navajo Times reporter on Wednesday, one week into his administration.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that on average, states will endure a 10% cut to their tax revenue in fiscal 2020, with a 20% shortfall looming in fiscal 2021.

'We need to downsize the system and make it easier to work with,' said Ben Shelly during a 45-minute interview in his office in Window Rock.

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During the interview, he touched on more than a dozen subjects, ranging from his feelings about gaming to his desire to get a better working relationship with the Navajo Nation Council than his predecessor had.

He said a major component of his time and energy during his first months in office will be looking at ways to increase the tribe's revenue in light of shortfalls that occurred during the past three years because of a national downturn in the economy.

To do this, he said, the government needs to start taking advantage of the tribe's natural resources - coal and oil - and enter into new agreements that will bring in more royalties and tax revenue.

Tribal mineral officials have been saying for decades that there is an untapped reservoir of energy worth hundreds of millions - if not billions of dollars - but since 1980, the tribe has only approved a couple of new leases.

'We never had to worry about this before because we had money coming in,' said Shelly.

But with revenues on the decrease, the time has come, he said, to seriously consider entering new agreements to exploit this source of revenue.

But outside energy companies may want to wait a while before sending proposals because Shelly doesn't have a good opinion of the tribe turning over these resources to outside companies.

'They are like pirates,' he said. 'They come in, make money off of us and then disappear.'

What he would like to do is enter into agreements with Navajo-owned companies that have knowledge of Navajo traditions and would take that into consideration in developing the resources.

He wants to do the same with tribal enterprises.

'I want to privatize a lot of our businesses,' he said. 'I don't think the government should be running a business.'

He wants to sell these business to Navajo entrepreneurs but he agreed that there have been problems in the past when the tribe sold businesses to Navajos only to see them sold to non-Navajo interests a few years later.

He said he would also like to the see the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority, which currently handles construction jobs only on the reservation, start expanding its operation to bid on projects off the reservation, thereby creating more jobs.

Alcohol and gaming

As for casinos, he said he is not expecting to see much revenue from the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise because all of their profits are being used to develop more casinos.

'I look at the casino operation as a 50-50 proposition,' he said.

The first 50 percent benefits the tribe by creating jobs and a future revenue stream. The other 50 percent, however, is negative and this relates to the amount of money that is generated by the casino from gambling by tribal members.

Although the enterprise expects to see a lot of non-Navajos gamble at casinos that are being developed near Leupp and Flagstaff, almost all of the customers at the Fire Rock Navajo Casino in Church Rock, N.M., and Flowing Waters in Hogback, N.M., have been tribal members.

'I'm very unhappy about this,' he said.

So unhappy that he has asked Navajos when he saw them gambling why they did it. Most said they did it as a way to 'reinvest their money back to the Navajo government,' pointing out that if they didn't gamble at a Navajo casino, they would do it somewhere else.

He admitted that he's also reinvested some of his own money this way, saying that when he visited the Flowing Water Casino recently, he lost $50.

Gaming is here to stay, he added, and because of this, he is looking at the possibility of setting up an alcohol and gaming department within the tribe since some of the casinos will serve liquor and should be monitored by the tribe.

He said he was aware of talk by some members of the Council about the possibility of legalizing liquor on the reservation so that the tribe would have a new revenue steam.

He pointed out that when he was on the Council, he was part of a task force that studied the situation and the studies pointed out possible aspects of having liquor sold on the reservation.

But this is an issue, he said, that should be decided by the Navajo people and not the government and if the people want to see it happen, they could get the matter brought up to a vote of the Navajo people.

Another aspect of the casino operation he is not happy about is the decision by the enterprise to provide free soft drinks.

'This only causes more obesity and leads to more diabetes,' he said. 'I wish they would change it to Navajo tea.'

Sovereignty

Speaking further on the subject of more revenue for the tribe, Shelly said he is looking at reviving the proposal for the tribe to issue its own license plates.

Several other tribes are doing it and the Navajo Nation has been looking at the idea off and on for the past 20 years. But Shelly said he would like to move beyond that and further tribal sovereignty by having the tribe issue its own driver's licenses.

This is important, he said, because it is time that the tribe take more control over things that are important to the Navajo people.

This is why he plans to work toward the day when the tribe gets funding direct from the federal government for programs like Medicare and Medicaid, instead of having to go through the state governments.

Relations with the Council

When the subject came to the relationship with the Navajo Nation Council, Shelly was adamant that his administration would not see the bickering and confrontations that occurred during the previous administration.

'I have already gone to the Council and told them that we will work together,' he said, adding that he told the Council that he would only veto legislation that violated tribal law.

'We need to downsize the system and make it easier to work with,' said Ben Shelly during a 45-minute interview in his office in Window Rock.

Related

During the interview, he touched on more than a dozen subjects, ranging from his feelings about gaming to his desire to get a better working relationship with the Navajo Nation Council than his predecessor had.

He said a major component of his time and energy during his first months in office will be looking at ways to increase the tribe's revenue in light of shortfalls that occurred during the past three years because of a national downturn in the economy.

To do this, he said, the government needs to start taking advantage of the tribe's natural resources - coal and oil - and enter into new agreements that will bring in more royalties and tax revenue.

Tribal mineral officials have been saying for decades that there is an untapped reservoir of energy worth hundreds of millions - if not billions of dollars - but since 1980, the tribe has only approved a couple of new leases.

'We never had to worry about this before because we had money coming in,' said Shelly.

But with revenues on the decrease, the time has come, he said, to seriously consider entering new agreements to exploit this source of revenue.

But outside energy companies may want to wait a while before sending proposals because Shelly doesn't have a good opinion of the tribe turning over these resources to outside companies.

'They are like pirates,' he said. 'They come in, make money off of us and then disappear.'

What he would like to do is enter into agreements with Navajo-owned companies that have knowledge of Navajo traditions and would take that into consideration in developing the resources.

He wants to do the same with tribal enterprises.

'I want to privatize a lot of our businesses,' he said. 'I don't think the government should be running a business.'

He wants to sell these business to Navajo entrepreneurs but he agreed that there have been problems in the past when the tribe sold businesses to Navajos only to see them sold to non-Navajo interests a few years later.

He said he would also like to the see the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority, which currently handles construction jobs only on the reservation, start expanding its operation to bid on projects off the reservation, thereby creating more jobs.

Alcohol and gaming

As for casinos, he said he is not expecting to see much revenue from the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise because all of their profits are being used to develop more casinos.

'I look at the casino operation as a 50-50 proposition,' he said.

The first 50 percent benefits the tribe by creating jobs and a future revenue stream. The other 50 percent, however, is negative and this relates to the amount of money that is generated by the casino from gambling by tribal members.

Although the enterprise expects to see a lot of non-Navajos gamble at casinos that are being developed near Leupp and Flagstaff, almost all of the customers at the Fire Rock Navajo Casino in Church Rock, N.M., and Flowing Waters in Hogback, N.M., have been tribal members.

'I'm very unhappy about this,' he said.

So unhappy that he has asked Navajos when he saw them gambling why they did it. Most said they did it as a way to 'reinvest their money back to the Navajo government,' pointing out that if they didn't gamble at a Navajo casino, they would do it somewhere else.

He admitted that he's also reinvested some of his own money this way, saying that when he visited the Flowing Water Casino recently, he lost $50.

Gaming is here to stay, he added, and because of this, he is looking at the possibility of setting up an alcohol and gaming department within the tribe since some of the casinos will serve liquor and should be monitored by the tribe.

He said he was aware of talk by some members of the Council about the possibility of legalizing liquor on the reservation so that the tribe would have a new revenue steam.

He pointed out that when he was on the Council, he was part of a task force that studied the situation and the studies pointed out possible aspects of having liquor sold on the reservation.

But this is an issue, he said, that should be decided by the Navajo people and not the government and if the people want to see it happen, they could get the matter brought up to a vote of the Navajo people.

Another aspect of the casino operation he is not happy about is the decision by the enterprise to provide free soft drinks.

'This only causes more obesity and leads to more diabetes,' he said. 'I wish they would change it to Navajo tea.'

Sovereignty

Speaking further on the subject of more revenue for the tribe, Shelly said he is looking at reviving the proposal for the tribe to issue its own license plates.

Several other tribes are doing it and the Navajo Nation has been looking at the idea off and on for the past 20 years. But Shelly said he would like to move beyond that and further tribal sovereignty by having the tribe issue its own driver's licenses.

This is important, he said, because it is time that the tribe take more control over things that are important to the Navajo people.

This is why he plans to work toward the day when the tribe gets funding direct from the federal government for programs like Medicare and Medicaid, instead of having to go through the state governments.

Relations with the Council

When the subject came to the relationship with the Navajo Nation Council, Shelly was adamant that his administration would not see the bickering and confrontations that occurred during the previous administration.

'I have already gone to the Council and told them that we will work together,' he said, adding that he told the Council that he would only veto legislation that violated tribal law.

Members of the Council, he said, told him that they did not like the idea of the line-item veto and he promised that he would use the power only when he felt he needed to.

If there is a possible conflict between the Council and the president's office, he said he plans to walk across the street and sit down with the Council and 'work out a compromise.'

One way he wants to resolve the possible conflicts, he said, is to revise the current signature authority procedure to merge the operations in both branches so that any resolutions would go before all the appropriate parties before it gets to the Council floor. If there are any objections, they can be resolved before it gets to the Council.

Shelly said one of the things he wants to do as quickly as possible is work with the Council to get the discretionary fund program re-established. The Navajo Nation Supreme Court earlier this month ordered that the program be discontinued until the Council could put in place procedures to make sure that the money is spent properly.

'We have a lot of grandmothers coming in asking for money,' Shelly said, adding that there is a need for the fund to help pay for things like funerals.

Vice president's role

Traditionally the vice president has been assigned to work on matters affecting the Eastern Agency but the new vice president, Rex Lee Jim, is from Arizona and doesn't have a lot of knowledge about eastern issues.

So Shelly said he and Jim decided that his two main areas of focus, at least in the early portion of the administration, will be on education and health.

These efforts will include setting up standards for educating students on the reservation and promoting a healthier lifestyle among the people.

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Restaurant owners and managers are always looking for creative and different ways to increase restaurant sales.

Your competitors aren't just other restaurants. Everyone wants a piece of the food and beverage industry. There are supermarkets, convenience stores, and food trucks selling meals, meal-kits, and stuff you haven't even thought of. You have to think of new strategies and restaurant marketing tips to increase revenue. Here are some ideas to add to your action plan to increase sales in restaurants.

The COVID-19 crisis has affected all restaurants. View the latest on the crisis and how to survive from our featured article: Coronavirus: Increase Restaurant Sales While Dealing With COVID-19.

Here Are 9 Suggestions On How To Increase Restaurant Sales:

1. Make It Easy For Local Customers To Find You

Local customers are the lifeblood of almost every restaurant. They are the most loyal and profitable customers a restaurant can have.

Zynga texas holdem poker apk download. Making it easy for local customers to get information about your restaurant is critical.

The term 'discovery' is often used when trying to classify a customer's first exposure to a restaurant. That's not a holistic definition of discovery. Discovery can refer to a customer's quest to find a restaurant new to them, but it also includes finding what's new at a restaurant they've already visited. Restaurant menus and offers constantly change. Getting that information to those looking for it is important.

Local search is often the best way for customers to find information about a restaurant. Moreover, 64% of restaurant searches done with smartphones convert within an hour. Restaurant consumer activity is much more locally driven and far more urgent than any other industry.

By managing your listings on platforms like NetWaiter, search engines, and mapping sites, you immediately make your restaurant's information more accessible to customers. Getting started is as simple as…

• Adding your restaurant name, address, and phone number
• Uploading high-quality photos of your restaurant and menu items
• Double-checking that your location is displayed correctly on mapping sites
• Writing a brief business description
• Regularly posting messages to keep local customers informed

2. Evaluate Your Online Ordering Strategy

Do you offer takeout or delivery? If so, you should be offering online ordering at your restaurant.

The benefits are clear: online orders are 26% more lucrative than walk-in or call-in orders. Furthermore, one-third of restaurant customers say technology options, such as online ordering, cause them to order takeout and delivery more often. Pay attention to these needs.

Online ordering also increases customer loyalty (in addition to your average order size). Your existing customers become more loyal and order more frequently due to the convenience and control online ordering provides. This reduces the load on employees taking orders over the phone. Additionally, it enables you to increase restaurant sales without hiring more employees or expanding your restaurant to manage the growth.

Online ordering for takeout and delivery is all about LOCAL CUSTOMERS. This is important to recognize, because implementing online ordering technology strengthens your bond with this loyal segment. While delivery has seen a massive surge in attention (and usage), 93% of off-premise operations are still traditional takeout. Delivery isn't a fad, but this statistic shows that more attention needs to be on your takeout operations.

A note about investing in technology:

Restaurants should set aside investment in tech when determining their business plan and marketing budget.

The online technology you invest in should center around putting your restaurant's brand in front of the customer. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, one in four guests use technology when deciding where to eat. Over 32% of 18–34-year-olds say it factors into their choice when deciding on a quick-service restaurant. Additionally, 28% say it helps them make their full-service restaurant choices.

Technologies like online ordering, digital menus, loyalty programs, and other apps connect you with your customers in ways that are helpful to them – and you. These types of investments should be prioritized over any other forms of marketing to ensure you are giving your customers the best overall experience.

3. Put Attention On Mobile

One of the most influential customer demographics for restaurants today are millennials – the group of people born after 1985. And, guess where they are looking for the information on where to eat? Their phones.

Millennials sleep with their mobile phone within arm's reach. More than 50% of millennials make their buying decision in the six-hour window before they eat. 29% of that group admitting that the window is closer to one-hour. 70% of millennials don't even plan that far in advance. Millennials also like businesses that communicate with technologies they prefer – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Getting your message to customers, when they are in decision mode, is important. Since most customers live and die by their smartphone, that's where you need to be. One option is to activate your NetWaiter site and use NetWaiter's free marketing platform to enhance your restaurant's mobile marketing efforts and attract more local customers.

4. More On Millennials

Studies show that millennials are loyal – so much so – they don't care as much about loyalty programs as other groups.

Millennials care about an easy and friction-less experience. Remember, this group does not remember a time before Amazon.com. Millennials think the whole world works like Amazon, or at least it should. You need to keep that in mind.

Ensure all aspects of ordering from your restaurant are easy. This is especially needed for millennials, because their buying power is huge and their continued loyalty can significantly increase restaurant sales.

5. Communicate With Employees

All managers want to get more from restaurant employees. This process starts by understanding that increasing restaurant sales involves everyone.

Hold regular meetings and let your employees in on your plans. With a little knowledge, they are more apt to give you their best performance.

Some of your more astute employees will know when sales are soft. Others will not. Be transparent about your bottom line. Remember, the performance of your staff reflects on your restaurant. A great staff can make a great restaurant, a poor staff will put you out of business. It all starts with leadership.

6. Get First-Time Customers To Come Back

A Harvard study of the restaurant industry revealed that if you can increase the number of repeat customers by 5%, you can increase your profits by 25% to 125%.

Here are some tips for making a good impression on first-time customers:

1) Train your staff to seek out those first-timers. Ask them how they found out about you, and pull out the stops when it comes to service.

2) Make sure their order is PERFECT. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Greet them with a smile and confirm everything in their order is correct. If it's a delivery order, double-check their bag before the delivery driver leaves.

3) Once you identify a first-time customer, consider giving them an incentive (like a promo) on their next order. Getting them to come back a second time is critical to getting them hooked!

7. Increase Restaurant Sales With Social Media

A survey of more than 1,200 consumers revealed where they like to dine or order takeout/delivery.

1) 83% said restaurants that treat employees well is important. Highlight your employee-of-the-month on social media. Did someone get a promotion, graduate from college, or do something great for a customer? Talk it up.

2) 73% indicated that support of their local community influences them. When you support a local event or sports team, take some photos and post them online. It makes a difference.

3) When talking about your menu, descriptions people like to read include: 'fresh', 'locally-sourced', 'whole grain', and anything 'all-natural'. Those keywords are great for getting folks in the door or ordering online.

Focus on photography:

Post Photos From Your Restaurant – Then Post Some More

One of the best, quickest and easiest way to promote your restaurant is with high-quality food photos. Most restaurants already have their social media profiles set up on channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If your profiles aren't set up, now is the time to do it. Create a plan that will encourage customers to visit your restaurant by posting visually and aesthetically-pleasing photos.

Modern Restaurant Management has a great list of ideas to consider when posting:

• Mouth-watering shots of your menu items
• Photos of your restaurant location's interiors, facilities, and kitchen
• Photos of your chef and kitchen and wait staff
• Q&A interview with your chef
• Video tour of your restaurant
• A behind-the-scenes video of what goes on in your kitchen

How To Increase Casino Revenue

Try sticking to concepts that fit your brand and commit to owning the process. The end goal is to drive customers – new and old – to your restaurant with your photos and unique content.

8. Stay On Top Of Technology

Research from the National Restaurant Association indicates that technology, including online ordering, plays a large role in how restaurants attract more customers. You need to include technology in your strategy to increase restaurant sales. Consider the following:

• 36% of customers say they are more likely to use technology options in restaurants than they were two years ago.
• 8 in 10 consumers agree that it enhances convenience.
• 7 in 10 say it speeds up service and increases order accuracy.
• One third say that technology options compel them to choose one restaurant over another.
• About one-third also say that it compels them to order takeout and delivery more often.

The Bottom Line: We're in a digital world and customers are attached to their devices. Therefore, using technology is essential to attract and retain customers for your restaurant.

9. Increase Prices (Slightly)

Increasing menu prices is a logical way to increase restaurant sales – if done right.

Ways To Increase Casino Revenues

If you hold off on price increases until you absolutely have to, then one of two things happens. 1) Either you won't be able to raise prices enough to keep up with costs, or 2) you will raise prices too much and drive customers away. It's best to slowly increase prices on a regular basis to keep up with rising costs. Doing it this way won't create sticker shock for customers if prices increase too much at once.

Another technique is to raise prices on parts of your menu, rather than across the board.

The goal is to increase pricing in a way that allows you to maintain operations, while minimizing friction for customers. If you follow a sound strategy to raise prices, any customers you lose will be offset by the customers you retain and who spend more.

Wrapping Up…

These are just a few ways to increase revenue at your restaurant. The real key is to keep an eye on the profit needle. When you see an uptick in sales, analyze why. What worked and can you double-down on it? Don't look for just one thing to increase sales at your restaurant. Keep an eye on all aspects that help you generate revenue and you'll start to see growth.

Activate Your NetWaiter Site

If you want to attract more local customers and keep them informed about your restaurant, check out NetWaiter's platform and network. You can search for, and activate, your NetWaiter site and app here: