Most important thing on a brick & mortar casino website for you

Hi all,

I recently started working in online marketing at a brick and mortar casino in Asia. I would like some advice on what some of your favourite casino websites are and particularly what you think are great features of casino websites and any important information/usability which a casino website should feature.

Many thanks in advance for any advice!

Best regards,
Mike.

Most important to me is the ability to login and check on my personal slot club information and book online. Other nice features are:

* A listing of which casinos have which slots (for casino operators with more than one casino)
* A map of the casino
* Restaurant menus and operating hours
* Slot club and sports/race book hours
* Calendar of current casino promotions and entertainment options (not necessarily on the same calendar)
* Detailed explanation of all available rules at the table games

Some nice sites with some of the elements listed above (not in any way recommendations):

peppermillreno.com
totalrewards.com
bconnectedonline.com
soaringeaglecasino.com

Harrah's does a pretty good job with its website, lots of links to info, up to date, easy reservation system which automagically includes all of your offers in the price of a room. MGM is better looking but less useful. Wynn's website is awesome but useless.

Put the information where it's expected.
Last week, I stayed at Bally's in AC. One of my plans was to spend some time in the pool. The website pool page did not specify a charge to use the pool. It was a surprise to me when I got there. When I said something, I was told that it IS on the website. I re-checked. It's specified on the SPA's page that there is a charge to use the spa, including the pool, but the pool's page did not specify the charge.

Make it compatible with all browsers.
When using the Caesar's website on a PC, I have no trouble bringing up the hotel rate calendar. I have to jump thru hoops to get to that page on my Mac.

Provide complete poker information.
As a poker player, I sometimes arrange my trips around poker and tournaments. The poker page should list the number of poker tables (most do), cash games offered (many do), tournament schedule (many do), blind structure (few do), and holiday cancellations (none do).

Property map.
This should include all areas that are open to the public, and specify some "orienting" landmarks, such as the main entrance, parking lot, access roads.

Restaurants.
Complete menus, including current prices, for all full service restaurants - including those that are well known chain restaurants. Links to make reservations to all restaurants that take reservations. Basic item listing with per person price range is acceptable for fast-food / self-serve restaurants.

FAQ.
Include a link to ask a question not listed. Pay attention to those questions for possible inclusion. I often find it laughable what some companies list on their FAQ page. Don't include a question if the information is already on the website. If you get those kinds of questions, maybe the website navigation needs fixing.

I want a complete and UPDATED list of table games available at that particular casino. I know casinos change their offerings frequently, but there are so many websites that show there's a game available that hasn't been spread for years. I think Harrah's website shows that Boston 5 is still offered at Harrah's Council Bluffs, but that hasn't been there for at least 5 years.

Updated slot club information and relevant charges for hotels (like resort fees and deposits that are truly required) are also very helpful.

There is often surprisingly little information about how to get to the casino. A link to a taxi information site that shows you how much a cab should cost. For lower price options you could give some idea of the cost/time tradeoff (i.e. it will take you an extra half hour to save 20%).

Seasoned gamblers with large budgets know how to find hosts. But the marginal gambler who is thinking about being rated often doesn't know how to get on a list. I've often felt that a website should have a place with some very simple instructions like: "Do you intend to play 4 hours a day for $25 play?" If so, then put check this box on your reservation, and a host will contact you.

Have a smart-phone version (in addition to the main one). Nothing in smartphone land upsets me more than an uber-trendy website with drop downs and animations that makes my phone barf.

Quote: Tiltpoul

Harrah's website shows that Boston 5 is still offered at Harrah's Council Bluffs, but that hasn't been there for at least 5 years.

Three of Caesar's Entertainment four Atlantic City Web Sites don't even give craps a paragraph in their Table Games entries. They do cover a lot of the carnival games.

Paco's comment about taxis and directions reminded me of another problem Caesar's has at the AC locations. Of the 4 casinos:
- Two include links to the ACES train (Didn't that die? The link still work, so maybe not).
- Two mention local airports - both include Bader Field (it closed Sept 2006).
- All 4 include MapQuest directions links, however, the Bally's link is broken and has a destination of London!
- None have a phone number on the home page.
- None have a Contact Us page, although all have that info on the Directions page.
- All 4 provide direct numbers.
- Only 2 provide the toll free number

My suggestion is a blank page with just the name, address, and phone number of the casino. As you can see by the feedback, the most frustrating thing is to have out of date or incorrect information. So if you are not going to keep it current, then don't even bother creating it in the first place. And above all, do not have email links or addresses that will not be answered.