Casino Journal Announces Southern Gaming Summit Results
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 1998--Casino Journal Publishing Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: CJPG - news) today announced the results of the 5th annual Southern Gaming Summit which took place on May
5th and 6th at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Approximately 1,500 people attended this year's conference which was by far the largest Southern Gaming Summit in
its five year history. The Convention Center's recent expansion resulted in an increase of 49% in exhibitors' revenues
while sponsorship and attendance increase data at a more modest pace. As is a trademark of Casino Journal's Summits,
the networking receptions, gourmet dinner and keynote addresses were widely attended.
The addition of Prudential Securities as a Corporate Sponsor of the Summit and a host of the corporate presentations
from many of the top publicly traded gaming companies and vendors which operate in the southern states also generated
a very positive response from attendees, exhibitors and the companies who were part of the presentations. As is usual at
Casino Journal's Summits, the comments which were made at those presentations quickly reached Wall Street as
evidenced by the positive reaction from Wall Street after Dan Lee, Chief Financial Officer of Mirage Resorts
(NYSE:MIR - news), presented to a standing room only crowd during one of the Prudential presentations at the
Southern Gaming Summit just one day after reporting disappointing earnings.
The Southern Gaming Summit also lived up to its reputation of promoting discussions on the most controversial issues
facing the gaming industry today. Issues discussed during the seminars included responsible gaming, children in
casinos, the most advanced player-tracking systems presentation and also a seminar where the top slot machine
manufacturers in the world gave their views on the products they are developing which will affect the future of the
gaming industry.
The ''Taste of the Gulf Coast'' keynote dinner not only received rave reviews for the top quality food which was
presented by the chefs of most of the casinos on the Gulf Coast but also for the speakers who gave their views on the
industry and the controversial issues surrounding the gaming industry. Dr. Paul Moore, a member of the National
Gambling Impact Study Commission gave what was considered by attendees, a very controversial speech, commenting
on the media's spreading of rumors involving the Commission's meetings so far. Tom Brosig, President and CEO of
Grand Casinos (NYSE:GND - news)gave a moving presentation highlighting his views on the critics of the gaming
industry and how the industry should address them.
Commenting on the 1998 Southern Gaming Summit, Casino Journal Publishing Group's Chairman and CEO Glenn
Fine said, ''With the tremendous growth and continuing interest in the southern gaming market, both Casino Journal
and our partner, the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, expected a much larger Summit but the results were well
above even our higher expectations. The expectations for the Mississippi gaming market to be the fastest growing
gaming market in the United States in the next year plus the volume of exhibitors who already committed to next year's
show and the extremely positive comments which were received from exhibitors, gives us confidence that this trade
show will continue to grow in the future, possibly even getting larger than our flagship trade show, The American
Gaming and Lodging Summit, which will be the first Gaming Industry trade show at the brand new Bellagio Hotel and
Casino Resort in January.''
Casino Journal Publishing Group is the largest publisher to the Gaming Industry. Casino Journal Publishing Group
publishes Casino Journal, a leading industry trade publication; Casino Player, the nation's largest and most widely read
consumer magazine; The National Gaming Summary, a gaming industry weekly newsletter; Nevada Hospitality, the
official magazine of the Nevada Hotel Motel Association; The Atlantic City Insider, a monthly newsletter for frequent
visitors to Atlantic City casinos; The Gaming Industry Weekly Report, The Gaming Industry Daily Report, The Gaming
Sector ... Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and The Daily Lodging Report, four newsletters dedicated to providing
information to gaming and lodging investors and executives. Casino Journal Publishing Group also produces the
American Gaming and Lodging Summit with Bear Stearns and Co. (NYSE:BSC - news) and the law firm of Lionel
Sawyer and Collins; The Southern Gaming Summit with the Mississippi Casino Operators Association; The Atlantic
City Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and UNLV's Casino OPs trade shows.
Contact:
Casino Journal Publishing Group
Alan Woinski, 201/947-4642
or
M&A West, Inc.
Scott Kelly, 650/588-2678 (Investor Relations)
www.mawest.com |
