Casino Marketing Guru John Romero to be Honored
with Lifetime Achievement Award July 26  

NEWS

LAS VEGAS (June 29, 2004) – Marketing trailblazer John Romero has had a profound impact on the gaming industry for four decades. On July 26, the industry will honor Romero with the inaugural Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award. The breakfast presentation will be part of the exciting new conference for casino marketing and operations professionals, “Casino Marketing 2004: The National Conference,” July 25-27 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Romero is a veteran of 44 years in the casino business and the author of industry best-sellers “Casino Marketing” and “Secrets of Casino Marketing.”  His common-sense columns that began in 1985 in International Gaming &Wagering Business (IGWB) led the gaming industry’s conversion to direct marketing. He conceived the idea for gaming tournaments in 1975, and with his partners produced the first blackjack tournament in history in December 1979, then staged tournaments all over the gaming map, from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo.

“John has been analyzing and influencing the casino industry as a marketing expert for nearly half a century,” says Romero’s friend Larry Close, General Manager of the Mill Casino, North Bend, Ore. “During the past 35 years I worked with and watched him develop practical business ideas that without fail produce accountable results. His tutoring, writing and wit have made an indelible mark on how we market to casino guests.  John changed the way casinos promoted their business and has been on the cutting-edge ever since. I’m happy that he is receiving this well-deserved industry recognition.”

Romero is currently a casino marketing consultant, writer and lecturer specializing in direct mail, direct response advertising, casino promotions and database building. A former Las Vegas casino executive (Del Webb’s Sahara), his work has won 28 national marketing awards including three Echos (the prestigious award given by the Direct Marketing Association in New York). He was a co-founder of Players International, Inc.

“Casino Marketing 2004: The National Conference” is co-produced by Raving Consulting and Ascend Media Gaming Group, with the support of Signature Sponsor IGT and Acres Gaming. It will address specific marketing issues facing casino operators in national and regional gaming markets. Nearly 200 top marketing professionals from around the world, representing commercial, tribal, local and mega-casinos, are already registered. This marks the second partnership between Reno-based Raving Consulting and Ascend Media Gaming Group, the gaming industry’s business-to-business media leader. The two teamed up in February to present the successful Northern Nevada Gaming Summit in Reno.

Registration is now open. View the full lineup and register online at http://www.casinomarketing2004.com. Save $100 by registering no later than July 2.

# # #

Media information and registration contact Stephen Gibbs, Ascend Media Gaming Group marketing manager, 913-344-1334, sgibbs@ascendmedia.com