“Gaming companies build the most entertaining properties, create the most innovative games and have the most friendly and attentive employees, but if no one knows about them, how can they experience them?”

LAS VEGAS—At the 13th annual American Gaming Association (AGA) Communications Awards, 10 different gaming companies, casino properties and equipment manufacturers were recognized with Gaming Voice Awards for communications excellence in 15 categories. The awards recognize outstanding corporate communications, public relations and advertising in the gaming industry and were presented at a ceremony held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in conjunction with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the gaming industry’s premier trade show.

“Gaming companies build the most entertaining properties, create the most innovative games and have the most friendly and attentive employees, but if no one knows about them, how can they experience them?” said Judy Patterson, senior vice president and executive director of the AGA, who served as emcee for the awards presentation. “Today’s winners have done a truly outstanding job telling the world about the excellent work that the gaming industry does every day.”

MGM Resorts International took home the lion’s share of prizes. MGM property ARIA Resort and Casino grabbed the top spot in the Best Employee Publication category for its Pulse daily pre-shift newsletter, while its parent company was recognized in the Best Customer Publication, Best Communications Campaign and Best Digital Direct Mail categories. M Life Magazine’s win for Best Customer Publication was its third straight in the category, making it the day’s only repeat winner.

Bensalem, Pa.’s Parx Casino was another multiple-Voice Award winner, taking top honors in the prestigious Multi-format Advertising Campaign category for its “Get Lucky in No Time” campaign and in Best Outdoor Advertising for its “New Jersey Transit Station Domination,” which was part of the “Get Lucky in No Time” effort.

The tribal gaming sector was well-represented, with Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Wash. earning a win for Best Television Advertisement for its “Q-Cash” spot and Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. being named as the top entry in the Best Social Media Program category.

Four categories were won by companies that supply or support the casino industry. The Best Website category saw Konami Gaming, Inc. take home the Gaming Voice award for its Fortune Chaser microsite. International Game Technology (IGT) grabbed the Best Annual Report trophy, and judges named the 2013 launch of Gasser Chair Company’s “Gasser Dazzles” campaign the top Print Advertising Campaign. Testing lab Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) took top honors in the Best Print Advertisement category.

The day’s other juried winners include The Venetian Hotel in the Best Direct Mail category for its Baccarat Tournament Invitation; the recently-opened Maryland Live! Casino for Best Radio Advertisement; and LotteryHUB in the Best Mobile Marketing category.

The AGA also honored Victor Rocha, owner and editor of Pechanga.Net, with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for Gaming Communications. Pechanga.Net is the leading source of Indian and gaming news on the Internet, combining original reporting with links to hundreds of articles each day on Indian and gaming topics. Rocha is frequently quoted in the press on gaming issues, is a popular choice as a conference panelist and moderator, and is a leading voice on gaming issues on Twitter and Facebook. In 2013, he hosted the first annual Indian Country Online (ICON) conference on all aspects of Internet gaming and social media. Rocha has earned many awards, including VCAT’s 2001 Catalyst Award, Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (2001), the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2002 Outstanding Contribution to Indian Country, and Raving’s 2012 Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Victor isn’t just a journalist, he’s also a fierce advocate for the Indian gaming sector and the gaming industry as a whole,” Patterson said. “Victor has helped spread and normalize commercial gaming beyond Las Vegas and Atlantic City and is an important part of why Indian gaming is no longer a cottage industry, but one that brings economic development, employment and a better life to so many.”

Awards were presented in 15 categories, and a panel of judges with expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, Internet design, graphic arts and financial communications determined the winners from among 203 total entries.

The AGA Communications Awards were made possible with generous support from Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern (PBTK) and Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

2013 Gaming Voice Award Winners

Best Annual Report
International Game Technology (IGT) – “Building on Our Momentum”

Best Communications Campaign
MGM Resorts International – “Inspiring Our World: A Musical Journey”

Best Customer Publication
MGM Resorts International – “M Life Magazine”
(Assisting Agency: Custom Publishing Group, Inc.)

Best Digital Direct Mail
MGM Resorts International – “Reaching Loyalty Members on Facebook”

Best Direct Mail
The Venetian Hotel – “Baccarat Tournament Invite”
(Assisting Agency: DREX)

Best Employee Publication
Aria Resort & Casino – “ARIA PULSE Daily Preshift”

Best Mobile Marketing
LotteryHUB – “LotteryHUB: 160,000 Downloads”

Best Multi-format Advertising Campaign
Parx Casino – “Get Lucky in No Time”
(Assisting Agency: Barker DZP)

Best Outdoor Advertisement
Parx Casino – “New Jersey Transit Station Domination”
(Assisting Agency: Barker DZP)

Best Print Advertisement
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) – “Giving You the World”
(Assisting Agency: Steinbeck Communications)

Best Print Advertising Campaign
Gasser Chair Company – “Gasser Dazzles Campaign”
(Assisting Agency: Concussion, LLP)

Best Radio Advertisement
Maryland Live! Casino – “GO LIVE!”
(Assisting Agency: Gaga Marketing)

Best Social Media Program
Pechanga Resort & Casino – “Pechanga Social Media”

Best Television Advertisement
Northern Quest Resort and Casino – “Q-Cash”
(Assisting Agency: Hanna & Associates)

Best Website
Konami Gaming, Inc. – “Fortune Chaser Microsite” – gaming.konami.com/fortunechaser
(Assisting Agency: Concussion, LLP)

For all the latest AGA and industry news, visit www.americangaming.org, follow the AGA onTwitter and “like” us on Facebook.

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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.