Sales Promotion

Sales promotion consists of promotional activities that stimulate purchases, other than advertising, personal selling, and publicity. It normally involves a direct inducement (such as money, prizes, free trials, extra products, gifts, or specialized information) that provides extra incentives to buy now or buy more, visit a store, request literature, display a product, or take some other action. Promotions are also designed to motivate impulse purchase (through the implementation of in-store displays), increase the quantity purchase (via pricing discounts), or shift the burden of inventory from the manufacturer to distributors or retailers (by providing volume discounts or other incentives). Sales promotion activities occur simultaneously with, and leverage advertising and publicity. Examples of Sales Promotion Displays Fashion shows Coupons Exhibits Free samples Novelty items Trade shows Demonstrations The Positive Effect of Sales Promotion on Brand Volume Sales promotion adds immediate and tangible value to the brand by maximizing sales volume. Advertising helps to develop and reinforce quality, differentiate brand reputation, and build long-term market value. A short-term price cut or rebate may be very effective at boosting sales. When all brands appear equal, sales promotion can be more effective than advertising in motivating customers to try a new brand or to select one brand over another. A strong sales promotions should be focused, creative, hard to imitate, and should well timed. The Negative Effect of Sales Promotion on Brand Volume Excessive sales promotion at the expense of advertising hurts profits. Some marketers believe the proper expenditure balance is approximately 60% for trade and consumer promotion and 40% for advertising. High levels of trade promotions relative to advertising and consumer promotions, have a positive effect on short-term market share, but may have a negative effective on brand attitudes and long-term market share. Many consumer promotions can undercut a brand's image, especially those that offer discounted pricing. Customers may not develop brand loyalty and promotions may erode brand perception. Sales promotion has a high cost relative to gains generated. Overly aggressive sales promotion can draw competitors into a price war, which reduces sales and profits for everyone.

Poker Royal

Poker Games

Poker is a card game in which players bet into a poker pot during the course of a hand. The poker player holding the best hand at the end of the betting wins the pot. During a given betting round, each remaining player in turn may take one of four actions: check, bet or raise, call, fold. Poker betting usually proceeds in a circle until each player has either called all bets or folded. Different poker games have various numbers of betting rounds interspersed with the receipt or replacement of cards. Poker is usually played with a standard 4-suit 52-card deck. In some poker games a joker or other wild cards may be added. The ace normally plays high, but can sometimes play low.

Playing Cards

A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, or thin plastic, figured with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games. Playing cards are typically palm-sized for convenient handling.

A complete set of cards is called a pack or deck, and the subset of cards held at one time by a player during a game is commonly called a hand. A deck of cards may be used for playing a great variety of card games, some of which may also incorporate gambling. Because playing cards are both standardized and commonly available, they are often adapted for other uses, such as magic tricks, cartomancy, or building a house of cards.

The front or face of each card carries markings that distinguish it from the other cards in the deck and determine its use under the rules of the game being played. The back of each card is identical for all cards in any particular deck, and usually of a single color or formalized design. Usually every card will be smooth however some decks have braille to allow blind people to read the card number and suit. The back of playing cards is sometimes used for advertising. For most games, the cards are assembled into a deck, and their order is randomized by shuffling.

Slot Machines are Slots

Slot Machines

Slot machines were introduced around the turn of the century, and their popularity increases daily. For many players, playing slots is still the most enjoyable and relaxing form of gambling.

These so called 'one-armed bandits' can be found in every casino, with a variety of models and coin denominations to please every player, including mechanical, electromechanical video, and the new touch-screen versions. With one touch of the screen, you can change from poker to slots. There are three to nine reels, criss-crosses, multiples, progressives, and specialty machines such as 21, Keno, Video Poker, Poker Bingo, and Video Horse Racing and Dog Racing. My favorite is the $.25 wheel of fortune slot machine with reels.

There are many different slot machine games. Jackpot size, combinations, symbols, size and number of coins allowed in each play vary as well. Included in these games are the popular Video Poker games. Modern slot machines are completely electronic. Symbol combinations come up randomly and machines are pre-programmed to return a certain percentage to the players.

Slots account for a good portion of a casino's action and winnings. They are simple to use, inexpensive to maintain, and require little or no skill to play.

To the player, a slot machine returns on average between 85% and 98%. The average casino advantage is calculated to be around 9%.

Slot Machines in California

In California, most of the slot machines print tickets and take paper money.