Reopening Realities: Cautious Celebration & Planning for the Future

Now that more than half of the American casinos have reopened or have dates for reopening, it’s time to get a reality check. While some local and tribal casinos have experienced great business and long lines, questions still remain about the long-term recovery and the related tourism amenities that often drive a casino resort.

At this session, operators who already have reopened explain how they prepared and what they experienced, along with how they plan to retain and build new business going forward.

Beyond CARES: How the Relief Bill Helps the Industry and Employees and Where it May Fall Short

The CARES Act provides $2 trillion in aid and relief to American companies and workers, including assistance for the gaming industry, one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. But how relief applies to different properties and companies will vary. This session will review how funds can be distributed to large and small companies in gaming to assist and retain employees or furlough them with the least financial impact. HR, finance and legal experts will weigh in on this session.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Who qualifies for assistance?
• What constitutes a large vs. a small business?
• What are the liability issues and mitigation?

Taking Care of Business: Difficult Decisions Ahead

Re-opening is still a ways off. It's a hopeful time, but a stressful one as well. Each property is going to have to make difficult decisions about what the "new normal" will look like. In this session a variety of experts will cover the important issue of re-opening and how the corporate and employee structure will change and evolve.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Who continues to work during the shutdown?
• Who comes back early to prepare for reopening?
• What about executive compensation?
• Should you use debt to cover the costs of reopening and what are the regulatory implications?
• How do you re-boot your systems and operations?
• How do you restart your marketing programs and how will they change in the new environment?

Tribal Troubles: How Indian Gaming Will Rebound

The coronavirus knows no boundaries so the impact on tribal gaming in the U.S. has been just as devastating as it has been in the commercial gaming sector.

But tribes are different. Shareholders might grumble about lower dividends or stock prices, but the slump in Indian Country impacts tribal members in much more dramatic ways. Whether it’s money to fund tribal government activities, employment at the casino or other benefits received by tribal members, the current situation has a massive impact.

At this session, tribal gaming executives and those familiar with Indian Country will examine how the tribal gaming industry can recover, what the steps will be, and how this crisis will change operations from now on.

Moving Forward: iGaming in the Covid-19 Era

While most of the gaming industry has been devastated by the Covid-19 crisis, one part of the business is thriving. With players barred from casinos, online gaming has taken a giant leap forward. Not only does it provide continuing revenue for casino companies in times such as these, but states collect taxes where none existed before.

But will the bloom fade when the crisis is over, or will states and jurisdictions rush to fill the void left by the continued absence of iGaming?

Experts will discuss the long-term viability of online gaming and how the Covid-19 crisis has awakened some of its most subtle critics.

Design Changes: What Will a Casino Resort Look Like in the Wake of Covid-19?

We’ve already seen Plexiglas partitions, more space between slot machines, limited number of players at table games and every other slot machine deactivated.

So what’s next? How will restaurants survive and thrive? Will lounges be the center of entertainment for a casino resort? How will showrooms be re-started in the wake of social distancing? What will the meetings & conventions space look like?

At this session, visionary architects and designers will interact with casino operators to discuss what might work and how customers may respond.