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Internet Gambling
Posted By: carleton* on 10/3/2004 11:14 PM (CST) 125 Points
you know there is a company named party poker. people can play poker on line. this company attracted lots of customers. what do you think their e-marketing strategy is? do you think there is anything they can do to make their business better?



Posted by: sammykarij Member Response
10/4/2004 5:24 AM (CST)
Carleton,
what is their URL. I haven't had of them I would like to have a look of their site
 

Posted by: W.M.M.A. Member Response
10/4/2004 8:07 AM (CST)
Last week there was a discussion of subliminal and undercover advertising, could this be one?

Do you have any association with this website?
Have you been retained to spread the word?

Thanks,
Randall
WMMA
 

Posted by: netmar* Accepted Answer
10/4/2004 10:18 AM (CST)
If you major concern is e-mailing, you can always spam using a phone number instead of a domain name as contact info so your site won't get shut down (ISP will) but make sure to read about laws in place in your state/province. You can promote free credit and stuff like that. People call you and you give them free "chips" and access info. Other than that, you can buy opt-in mailing list or use a bullet proof server and spam like crazy using your domain name but those are expensive.
 

Posted by: Pepper Blue Accepted Answer
10/4/2004 11:11 AM (CST)
Hi Carleton,

Poker is very hot right now, primariliy due to the huge television exposure it is getting and an increase in celebrity involvement.

This is providing online companies like Party Poker a huge opportunity to rise with the tide, and it appears they are doing a good job of this; I have seen them mentioned no less than 1/2 dozen times in the last 2 months in various media publications - and I don't play poker, so I'm not seeking this information out.

It lools like their e-marketing strategy consists primarily of "Tell-a-Friend" where they will credit your account with $50.00.

Along with this is an attractive looking affiliate program that they heavily promote.

They also sponsor and/or host a number of poker related everts in the "bricks & mortar" venues.

I don't think spamming would be a good startegy because they are already trying hard to make their business model as legitimate and ethical as they can. I'm sure they are very aware of this. not mention it is illegal.

So, it looks to me like their overall marketing strategy, both online and offline, isn't doing too bad of a job.

What are your thoughts on how they can improve?

I hope that helps!
 

Posted by: uxus* Accepted Answer
10/11/2004 12:54 AM (CST)
myself is located outside the US, therefore other countries do posses the internet connection that differs from the US connections.

My first question would be what is the missing part in the normal, real casino? My immediate answer would be the clocks.

Second question concerning the security and validity (or trustworthy) of the site, whether the clients are really reliable with this site.

Let me answer the first question (concerning clock) - first is that the user is his or her own desktop computer and the ISP in order to get connected to the site. One is that they can provide their own "line" in order to get connected to their system. Where the connection would be valid only for the internal usages - that is playing only. Second comes the software that they are providing to the customer - easy to download and access, good UI (user interface) sounds etc and etc. So what is the relationship with the "clocks" you would ask me. I think that the software will open in full different window - and wont allow the customer to be able to look at the system watches. Giving good opportunities to the win and loose situation - in order to make that customer stay as long as possible - giving the customer more and more ability to try other games that he or she would think that they can do their best.

Second question is concerning the security. most of those sites would probably ask two things 1) is the credit card 2) is the service like "webmoney" that can be really secure. So is it possible that you are using your secure "webmoney" and earn direct cash without any taxations and transfer fees of the bank. You are getting the cash directly into your own e-pocket - what is next decide for your self... buy dvd, software apply to magazines and etc...

Comming to the spam or mailing list - i dont think that the company would prefer to do so, in my opinion why should a company spend money on outgoing traffic or even outsource another company that would send the mails to the people. You dont know those people, incomes, psychologies and etc.

One idea came to my mind, just recentrly - what is better than the online casino - only the real casino... Speaking of US what is the haven of casino Las Vegas you say. The main prize for the winner could be good promotional campaign as if the online casino gives you two options gives you the money to your pocket (real or electronic) OR provides you with the tickets accomodation fees to the specific casino with the money that you have win... I dont really know what are the transportation and accomodation cost for one day in Las Vegas but i predict them to be good enough...
 

Posted by: carleton* Author Response
10/11/2004 2:29 PM (CST)
sorry, everyone. i didn't reply to this message right away. i should apologize for that. then i should thank everyone for your comments. that is really helpful.

i don't have any relationship with that website. i am a student who is doing e-marketing research on this company. if you wanna take a look at that website, i can tell you. www.partypoker.com

i did some research on this company. well, since i am a student, so my view may not professional. first of all, i think the security is the issue every website has. such as personal info, credit card info. secondly, i am thinking that when peole do online gambling, they may lose the fun of communicating with others. when you playing games in the real casino, you can communicate with others. when you see other gamesters playing, especially when they win, you will feel so excited to get involve into that game. i think that is one of indirect promotion the real casino can do but not online. how many people will continue coming back to the online casino in the long term is the question i want to know. how can online gambling make people feel so excited? i know they have some prize offer, but if gamesters cannot win that prize, they cannot feel that joyance. in the long term, will they lose the interest in the online gambling?
 

Posted by: uxus* Member Response
10/13/2004 6:21 AM (CST)
Promototional tools, freebies, and other accesses to the resources that will definetely will not make a user be bored of... You are talking about chatting and communication with each other - i will say that you are right at this point - however while sitting at casino you often dont want to talk and be the VIP person that is you are sitting in the special place and you are betting the good enough bets on the table. What makes you so special is the attributes that you are attached to - you have to be well suited, cigare and a nice looking necklace on the neck of the beautiful lady sitting and smoking a cigare (this is a good representation of some movie) however it works - people would like to TASTE some feelings that actors are feeling during their role play. Secondly people the behavior as an example...

 

Posted by: David_Nelson* Accepted Answer
10/14/2004 12:28 PM (CST)
Security is an important factor as you say, but there is, in my view, a more important issue for the potential customer and that is "perceived trust".

Customers "expect" security, it is not a differentiator or a USP for a known brand. The weight attached to this factor will vary depending upon the level of brand awareness.

Focus on building the right brand in this market as there is already a healthy choice.
 

Posted by: ASVP/ChrisB Accepted Answer
10/14/2004 7:13 PM (CST)
From my perspective there is a large number of gaming sites on the Internet, for all I can tell they may all be owned by the Russian mafia.

So how does a prospective gambler differentiate between a bona-fide gaming site and a dodgy one that will rip them off?

C-Dimension's point about "perceived trust" hit the nail on the head... I don't think this trust will be built using spam or banner advertising. And I even doubt the efficacy of affiliate programs unless there are very strict no-spam rules to prevent the affiliate damaging the brand.

I think you need an off-line directional campaign (can be backed with on-line editorial content) to get people to come visit the site.

I'm guessing people will trust an operation that advertises in mainstream media - magazines, newspapers, radio.

The "gambler-get-gambler" idea is good. People pass the trust along to their friends, and get rewarded in the process.

I think you also need to consider the problem gambler. Here in Australia part of the tax derived from gaming goes back into community help programs for people who get out of their depth with their gambling addiction.

A gambling website that is there for the long haul needs to make allowances for the fact that some people can become obsessed.

Just as wine bottles often contain messages about drinking in moderation, a gambling website should contain a message along the lines of "Stop gambling if it isn't fun any longer" with links to agencies that can help people who have become addicted.

These "corporate and community citizenship" initiatives help build trust with the on-line community and help establish the company as ethical, putting the customer before corporate profit, and, therefore, proving the website is trustworthy.

More content about the beneficiaries of the profits would also assist to dispel any "mob/shady element" views of potential gamblers. If this business is helping keep native Americans in work and preserving their cultures, why not tell customers about it? From an Australian perspective that would be a positive, you would need to assess that possible link within the US/Canadian context.

Hope this helps.

ChrisB
 

Posted by: Val (Moderator)* Moderator Response
10/18/2004 4:18 AM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question, since its more than 10 days old. We do this to make sure members' contributions are rewarded in a timely manner and to improve the visibility of newer questions. Thanks, so much, for participating!

Val (Moderator)
 



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