WASHINGTON—The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced finalists for the 2007 Gaming Voice Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in public relations, marketing, advertising and financial and corporate communications in the gaming-entertainment industry.  

The finalists, which represent 20 gaming companies, properties and organizations from across the United States and Canada, were named in 18 categories, including best 2006 annual report, best customer publication, best print, outdoor, radio and television advertisements, best direct mail and best Web site.  This year’s awards also feature four new categories: best corporate social responsibility publication and best employee communications, public affairs and corporate social responsibility campaign. A panel of judges with expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, Internet design, graphic arts and financial communications evaluated more than 200 entries, the highest number in the award program’s history, to determine the 52 finalists.

“The members of the gaming industry, like members of any other industry, must be continually innovative in their communications and marketing efforts in order to compete for the attention and dollars of consumers, and this year’s communications awards finalists represent the finest examples of that innovation,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA, who will serve as master of ceremonies for the awards presentation. 

Gaming Voice Awards will be presented at the AGA Communications Awards Presentation and Luncheon on Monday, Nov. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The AGA also will honor the long-time manager of the Las Vegas News Bureau, Don Payne, with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Gaming Communications.  Throughout his tenure with the Las Vegas News Bureau, he worked to promote the city to print and broadcast media from around the world and helped turn the city into an instantly recognizable travel brand and one of the world’s premier tourist destinations.

The AGA Communications Awards are sponsored by market analysis and investment firm Goldman, Sachs & Co., with support from Wells Fargo Bank, Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern (PBTK) and Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

2007 Gaming Voice Award Finalists (listed in alphabetical order):

Best 2006 Annual Report: Commercial or Native American Casino
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Assisting agency: Kuhlmann-Leavitt)
MGM MIRAGE (Assisting agency: SK+G)
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (Assisting agency: SK+G)

Best 2006 Annual Report: Public Agency or Association
Iowa Gaming Association – “Building Iowa’s Communities Through Philanthropy” (Assisting agency: Flynn Wright)

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Publication
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. – “Making a Difference” (Assisting agency: Eleven, Inc.)
MGM MIRAGE – “MGM MIRAGE 2006 Annual Diversity Report”
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. – “Pinnacle Supports Responsible Gaming” (Assisting agency: SK+G)

Best Customer Publication
Boyd Gaming Corporation – “Echelon Magazine” (Assisting agency: SK+G)
MGM MIRAGE – “CityCenter Las Vegas Magazine” (Assisting agency: Greenspun Media Group)
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – “Planet Hollywood Magazine” (Assisting agency: SK+G)

Best Employee Publication
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. – “Winning” (Assisting agency: Eurie Creative)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Shoreline”
Boyd Gaming Corporation – “Boyd Buzz Summer 2007” (Assisting agency: Rain Visual Design)

Best Web Site
Iowa Gaming Association – www.iowagaming.org [2] (Assisting agency: Flynn Wright)
Treasure Island Resort & Casino – www.theislandiscallingyou.com [3] (Assisting agency: Periscope)
Turning Stone Resort & Casino – www.thelodge.travel [4]

Best Direct Mail: Single Piece
Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino – “Barona’s New Year’s Eve 2006 VIP Event Invitation”
Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino – “Global Cash Access Prospecting”
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – “Mariah Carey Invitation” (Assisting agency: DRGM Advertising)

Best Direct Mail: Campaign
Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino – “2007 Club Barona Tier Aspiration/Migration Campaign”
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. – “Pinnacle Acquisition Program” (Assisting agencies: Casino Marketing Alliance and Nimblefish Technologies)
Turning Stone Resort & Casino – “Turning Stone Brochure Series”

Best Print Advertisement: Single Ad
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – “Maxim Oasis Party Ad” (Assisting agency: DRGM Advertising)
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – “StripSteak Brand Ad” (Assisting agency: DRGM Advertising)
MGM MIRAGE – “Diversity Has a Mascot” (Assisting agency: Crear Creative Group)

Best Print Advertisement: Campaign
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Promenade Shops Ads” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Somewhere Ads” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – “Pollstar Event Ads” (Assisting agency: DRGM Advertising)

Best Outdoor Advertisement: Single Piece
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “ATL to R&R” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “ATL to WOW” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Titanium is Optional” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Station Casinos, Inc. – “Fortune 100” (Assisting agency: Crear Creative Group)

Best Outdoor Advertisement: Campaign
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Fallen Oak Sequentials” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Just Over an Hour” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Somewhere #3” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)

Best Broadcast Advertisement: Television
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. – “Perfect Pair” (Assisting agency: Cannonball)
Mandalay Bay – “Wonderlay Bay – New Brand TV” (Assisting agency: DRGM Advertising)
The Mirage Resort & Casino – “LOVE” (Assisting agency: MGM MIRAGE Advertising)

Best Broadcast Advertisement: Radio
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – “Braves Radio – Versus” (Assisting agency: Masterminds)
Wildhorse Resort and Casino – “Hunting Widows’ Weekend” (Assisting agency: Citrus)
Wildhorse Resort and Casino – “Easter Fast Cash” (Assisting agency: Citrus)

Best Multi-format Ad Campaign
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. – “the isle Teaser Campaign” (Assisting agency: The Media and Marketing Group)
Lumière Place – “Lumière Recruitment” (Assisting agency: SK+G)
Potawatomi Bingo Casino – “Potawatomi Branding Campaign” (Assisting agency: Parthé Inc. Visual Communications Group)

Best Public Affairs Campaign
MGM MIRAGE – “CityCenter Residential Sales Launch” (Assisting agency: Kirvin Doak Communications)
The Mill Casino Hotel – “Construction Communications Campaign”
Station Casinos, Inc. – “Fortune 100” (Assisting agency: Crear Creative Group)

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign
Ontario Lottery and Gaming – “Game Show 1 & 2” (Assisting agency: Bensimon Byrne)
Station Casinos, Inc. – “Caring for our Community” (Assisting agency: Crear Creative Group)

Best Employee Communications Campaign
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. – “Ameristar Casinos: Workplace Giving” (Assisting agency: Eleven, Inc.)
Bally Technologies – “Employee Trivia Contest”
MGM MIRAGE – “MGM MIRAGE Family Scholarship Program”

If you are interested in covering or attending the AGA Communications Awards Presentation and Reception, please contact Brian Lehman at 202-552-2680.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the national trade association for the commercial casino industry. In addition to representing the interests of its members on federal legislative and regulatory issues, the AGA serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.