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Segmenting slot machine players: a factor‐cluster analysis

Sandy C. Chen (College of Business, Oregon State University, Bend, Oregon, USA)
Stowe Shoemaker (Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA)
Dina Marie V. Zemke (The Hospitality College, Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA)

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

ISSN: 0959-6119

Article publication date: 1 February 2013

1531

Abstract

Purpose

Slot machines and other machine gaming generate between 65 percent and 90 percent of a US casino's revenue. This article aims to examine the motivations, behaviors, and preferences of slot machine customers, and to develop market segments.

Design/methodology/approach

The study's objectives include: understanding the demographic, gambling motivation, and gambling behavioral characteristics of slot machine players; identifying important reasons for choosing one slot machine game over another; examining player attitudes and behaviors pertaining to progressive machines; and investigating player desire for theme‐based games. This was accomplished through an online survey of slot machine players.

Findings

Profiles of slot machine players are developed and the slot players are segmented into four clusters that explain motivations and game preferences.

Practical implications

This article fills in some of the gaps in understanding the gambling behavior of slot players. This study can help gaming machine manufacturers design new products and features to serve existing machine gaming customers and to attract new customers. Casino and other gaming operators can use this information not only to select the right types of machines to provide on‐site, but also to develop advertising and promotions to attract and retain new and existing customers for slot machines and other types of gaming machines.

Originality/value

This is the first published study that segments slot machine players from a marketing perspective and identifies their preferences, behaviors, and demographic groupings.

Keywords

Citation

Chen, S.C., Shoemaker, S. and Zemke, D.M.V. (2013), "Segmenting slot machine players: a factor‐cluster analysis", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 23-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596111311290200

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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