Player Characteristics and Demographics
Revealed in New National Survey
LAS VEGAS (July 18, 2002) � A survey released today sheds new light
on the more than 50 million Americans who visited a casino last year, revealing
significant differences between gamblers and non-gamblers. The survey highlights
distinctions between the two groups on issues as disparate as retirement
investing and leisure time activities.
Profile of the American Casino Gambler: Harrah�s Survey 2002 finds
that the typical casino player is in fact quite different from the stereotypes.
The survey, commissioned by Harrah�s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET), is
based on two nationwide studies: the Roper Reports, conducted by Roper
ASW, and the U.S. Gaming Panel, conducted by NFO WorldGroup, Inc.
�The results of this survey disprove a number of longstanding myths
about casino players,� said Gary Loveman, Harrah�s president and chief
operating officer. �The findings demonstrate that casino players have broad
appetites for life-enriching experiences, are financially stable and responsible,
and are active in political and community life.�
The survey also explores the relationship between income, age, education,
and casino gambling; it identifies the areas of the country where casino
gambling is most and least popular; and it pinpoints the top casino destinations
for residents of each state and many metropolitan areas.
SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
Player Demographics
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The median household income of casino gamblers is $49,753 versus $41,343
for the overall U.S. population � a 20 percent difference.
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As the income of an individual rises, so does the likelihood he or she
is a casino gambler. Thirty-five percent of Americans with annual
household income levels above $95,000 gamble in casinos, while only 22
percent of adults in homes earning less than $35,000 are casino players.
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The typical casino player is middle-aged and more likely to be female,
according to the survey. The median age of casino gamblers is 46,
with casino participation peaking in the 51-56 age group. The male/female
ratio of casino players is 45 percent/55 percent, while the ratio among
the overall U.S. population is 48 percent/52 percent.
Gamblers� Financial Affairs
Casino players share the same financial concerns as other Americans,
the survey found, but tend to be more secure about their future. When compared
to non-gamblers, casino players are:
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More likely to put their money in investments that offer more opportunity
for long-term earnings: During a 12-month period, 57 percent of gamblers
invested in a retirement or pension plan as opposed to 43 percent of non-gamblers.
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More inclined (53 percent versus 41 percent) to believe they have or will
have enough money to live comfortably during their senior years, the survey
found.
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Less concerned about their ability to meet basic financial obligations
such as paying the mortgage or rent (20 percent versus 26 percent), medical
bills (20 percent versus 28 percent) and other debts.
Non-gamblers, however, were more likely (46 percent versus 41 percent)
to report that �to become wealthy� is part of their idea of the American
Dream.
Leisure Time
While gamblers share many of the same leisure time preferences as Americans
overall, they are far more active in their leisure time, according to Profile
of the American Casino Gambler.
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Gamblers have a wide variety of interests and hobbies and are more likely
than non-gamblers to engage in many activities, including: travel (36 percent
to 24 percent), fishing (31 percent versus 23 percent), camping (26 percent
versus 19 percent), and bicycling (22 percent versus 14 percent).
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Gamblers are more avid readers and are far more likely to be out-and-about
eating at restaurants, traveling on weekends, going to cultural events
and engaging in other activities outside the home.
Home and Community
Casino players, like other Americans, rank being a good spouse and parent
as most important to �being successful,� the survey found. Four out of
10 gamblers (versus 34 percent of non-gamblers) mention �being true to
one�s self� as their personal idea of success.
Other key findings include:
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Gamblers rank manners and politeness as the qualities most essential to
instill in their children (67 percent versus 61 percent for non-gamblers).
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Non-gamblers have a greater tendency to rank religious faith as an important
quality (36 percent versus 28 percent for gamblers). Casino players
are more likely to feel a strong affinity with three distinct communities:
workplace (47 percent versus 36 percent for non-gamblers), professional
groups or unions (18 percent versus 9 percent) and college or school alumni
associations (15 percent versus 8 percent).
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Casino players are more inclined to participate in civic and political
affairs. They are more likely than non-gamblers to have signed a petition
(34 percent versus 25 percent); attended a public, town or school meeting
(22 percent versus 14 percent); or served as an officer of a club or organization
(10 percent versus 6 percent).
Games of Choice
Among player preference findings:
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Casino players prefer slot machines and video poker machines to table games:
74 percent versus 14 percent, with 8 percent expressing no preference.
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The highest preference for slot machines was measured in the nation�s north
central census region.
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Table games are most popular among younger adults and least popular among
the country�s oldest casino players.
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Men are almost twice as likely as women to report table games as their
favorite type of casino gambling.
Casino Visitation
53.2 million adults (age 21 or older) made a total of 303.3 million
trips to gamble at casinos last year, or an average of 5.7 visits per gambler
per year. With a total U.S. adult population of 196.9 million, the 53.2
million adult visitors in 2001 represent a national casino gambling participation
rate of 27 percent.
Growth Potential in the East
The survey found that a number of populous states east of the Mississippi
have casino participation rates (percent of adults that gambled at a casino
in 2001) below the national average: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Tennessee and Virginia.
Additionally, eight of the nation�s 20 most populous Designated Market
Areas, or DMAs, have casino penetration rates below the national average.
All but one is east of the Mississippi River: Boston; Washington, D.C.;
Dallas-Ft. Worth; Atlanta;
Cleveland; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota; and
Pittsburgh.
Where Casino Players Live
Harrah�s Survey 2002 found that nearly 53 percent of Americans� casino
trips in 2001 were taken by gamblers residing in the top 10 casino feeder
states:
California, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Michigan, Texas, New Jersey,
Louisiana, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Additional findings about where casino
players live include:
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Only three of the top feeder states � Nevada, Missouri and Louisiana �
are not among the top 10 states in population.
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Thirty-two states each generated more than two million casino trips in
2001.
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Gamblers living in the top 20 casino feeder markets (DMAs) took nearly
51 percent of total U.S. casino trips.
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The top five feeder markets accounted for about a quarter of total U.S.
casino, according to the Harrah�s survey.
About Harrah�s Survey 2002: Profile of the American
Casino Gamble
Profile of the American Casino Gambler is based on two nationwide studies:
the Roper Reports, conducted by Roper ASW; and the U.S. Gaming Panel, conducted
by NFO WorldGroup, Inc.
Roper ASW administered face-to-face interviews to a nationwide sample
of 2,000 men and women, 18 years of age or older, in respondents� homes.
The margin of error for a question in the Roper Reports answered by all
2,000 respondents at a 95 percent confidence level is approximately +/-
3 percent. NFO WorldGroup, Inc. mailed a survey questionnaire to a panel
of 100,000 adults, 21 years of age or older, within the Continental United
States. The survey generated 66,283 respondents from which NFO identified
the U.S. Gaming Panel, a nationally representative sample of 17,942 casino
players. The margin of error for a question asked of all 17,942 casino
players at a 95 percent confidence level is approximately +/- 1 percent
and can vary between +\-1 percent and +/- 5 percent depending on sample
segmentation.
Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah�s Entertainment, Inc. operates
25 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah�s brand name.
Harrah�s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its
target customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent
products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology
leadership. |