The gaming industry has been evolving since we began publishing in 2002. Here at GGB we strive to keep you up to date and ensure you know the latest trends and developments in the industry. We think we’ve done a pretty good job at that over the years, but we’re now in the midst of a double whammy.
Not only is the gaming industry changing even more rapidly than before, but so is the publication business. In this day of instant information, monthly trade magazines have to do much more than just publish the news. We’ve got to be part of your lives on a daily basis.
As we enter 2016, we’re instituting several changes to GGB. Our “Dateline” section at the front of the magazine has disappeared. This was a recap of the news from the previous month, but since month-old news is really old these days, we thought we’d offer a fresher approach. So we’ve replaced the Dateline section with a rotating group of ideas that may or may not be the same each month.
In January, we bring you for the first time “By the Numbers.” This page will present snapshots of studies and research that show you graphically how different segments of the industry are performing. Some great charts this month include Alan Meister’s Indian Gaming Report and the Eilers Fantini Slot Report.
Later, you’ll see our “5 Questions” segment that pins down a gaming official on one of the most important topics of the day. This month, the innovative leader of GAN, Dermot Smurfit, explains the importance of social casinos to gaming operators.
And in our inaugural “Gaming History” page, we try to tie events and individuals from gaming’s past into what is happening today. We go way back to the early 1950s to discuss the Kefauver Committee and how that changed gaming in the U.S. forever.
As I said, these pages are just the start of the original content that we’re going to offer in the front of the magazine. If you have any ideas for this important segment or want to weigh in on what you’ve read this month, please don’t hesitate to email me.
One of the reasons we discontinued Dateline was that everyone knows the news these days only moments after it happens. There are numerous daily newsletters, some that send “breaking news” editions when something big happens. Our contribution to more timely news is our weekly e-newsmagazine, GGBNews.com. That’s where we consolidate the week’s news, layer on original reporting, offer the weekly GGB Podcast, and some insightful opinions by members of the gaming industry.
As a New Year’s gift to you, we’re offering six months of GGB News for free. Simply log on to our website (GGBNews.com), click on the “Subscribe” button and fill out all the information (no credit cards necessary). At the bottom enter the coupon code “GGB16.” Try it for free for six months and see if you don’t agree with thousands of subscribers that it’s your best source of gaming news and information on the internet.
Another addition is a deal with veteran gaming executive Brooke Dunn to bring his Casino Talk online radio show to GGB. Casino Talk will be posted every two weeks and published on our GGBMagazine.com website. Don’t miss Brooke’s important guests, terrific insight and insane sense of humor. It’s a fun listen.
We know that printed magazines are going the way of the dinosaur. Hopefully that will happen long after I’m gone, but in the meantime, we’re aggressively adding interactive content to our list of offerings. In addition to GGB News, we’re very active on Facebook (Global Gaming Business), Twitter (@globalgamingbiz), and LinkedIn (join our Global Gaming Business group with more than 7,000 members).
Each month, you can access the digital edition of this month’s magazine, at least 10 days before you get the physical copy. Simply visit GGBMagazine.com and click on Resources & Digital Editions to do so. In the meantime, you can add GGB Magazine to your Apple or android device by clicking on Resources & Add GGB Magazine to your device—that way, we’re just a quick click away.
So, lots of changes for GGB Magazine in 2016. We hope you like the changes and give us feedback and suggestions. This is going to be a great year for gaming, and we want you all along for the ride.
