As most of you know, Disney has spent a lot of money over the years to keep casinos out of Florida. Disney is perceived as a family-friendly provider of entertainment. What's interesting this year is that Disney has been recently branding casino and lottery games with its Marvel characters, which were acquired by Disney in 2009. I feel like this will attract younger gamblers. Disney is a for-profit company who has now found another way to make money. I just feel like that this venture is kind of conflicting with Disney's own image. Below are the numerous articles talking about the new games.
"New Spider Man Casino Game"
http://now.wms.com/winninglines/2012/09 ... to-action/
"Iron Man and Colorado Lottery"
http://news.lotteryhub.com/2013/05/23/i ... o-lottery/
"The Avengers Canadian Lottery"
http://epublicgaming.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=30
"Iowa State Lottery"
http://www.ialottery.com/games/Scratch/ ... onMan3.asp
Disney and Gambling
Moderator: Moderators
-
Cardinals314
- Peter Pan's Flight Pixie Duster
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Jun Mon 10, 2013 11:40 pm
- Location: 817
Disney and Gambling
My WDW Trip Report March 2013
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
-
Wizzard419
- Pirates of the Caribbean Buccaneer
- Posts: 5531
- Joined: Sep Sat 04, 2010 1:44 pm
- Location: Southern California
Re: Disney and Gambling
That isn't entirely true about Disney branding anything, it is actually the lotto/gambling device company that licenses the use of the name/characters and this rarely has any ties to the rights holder beyond them sending money for the use (they do not see a cut of the take).
"Branded" machines are nothing new, go into a casino and you will notice that the same machines are re-skinned and run variants on the same programs.
They could be paying more attention, but at the same time the campaigns have such short shelf lives that by the time an outraged parents group brings it to their attention it may be gone.
"Branded" machines are nothing new, go into a casino and you will notice that the same machines are re-skinned and run variants on the same programs.
They could be paying more attention, but at the same time the campaigns have such short shelf lives that by the time an outraged parents group brings it to their attention it may be gone.
-
Cardinals314
- Peter Pan's Flight Pixie Duster
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Jun Mon 10, 2013 11:40 pm
- Location: 817
Re: Disney and Gambling
Disney is allowing the gambling device company to make games based on their characters for money. I have just noticed that this debate in Florida has been going on for years, starting in the 1970s. It just fascinating to me that Disney has this tough stance on gambling establishments in Florida when they are selling IP to gambling device and lottery companies at the same time. Disney feels that any kind of gambling establishment is a threat to them business wise.Wizzard419 wrote:That isn't entirely true about Disney branding anything, it is actually the lotto/gambling device company that licenses the use of the name/characters and this rarely has any ties to the rights holder beyond them sending money for the use (they do not see a cut of the take).
"Branded" machines are nothing new, go into a casino and you will notice that the same machines are re-skinned and run variants on the same programs.
They could be paying more attention, but at the same time the campaigns have such short shelf lives that by the time an outraged parents group brings it to their attention it may be gone.
My WDW Trip Report March 2013
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
-
Wizzard419
- Pirates of the Caribbean Buccaneer
- Posts: 5531
- Joined: Sep Sat 04, 2010 1:44 pm
- Location: Southern California
Re: Disney and Gambling
Usually, with franchise stuff, they have little to no attention paid by them and it goes to a third party to handle all of this. It is no worse than the various low-quality toys that are out on the market using the Princess franchises.
Disney does not and will not feel any threat to them through licensed properties because there is none. The machines, for example, are in establishments that require you to be old enough to play to enter the casino floor. Additionally, there isn't the stigma of gambling that you would find with tobacco. You won't find a Mickey Mouse branded one, but that is only because players wouldn't want to go to one.
I also forgot to mention, there are casinos legally operating in Florida, Anna Nichole Smith was found dead at the one in Hollywood, Florida. Disney's stance might not be so much a moral one but rather an aesthetic one or possibly even the concern that guests will leave the property (if they aren't on the property, they aren't buying your goods and services). They could open casinos on their ships and in the state, but if the regulations weren't strict enough they would have to deal with the low attendance. In Vegas, the number of gamblers keep shrinking and those that do still gamble keep spending less.
Disney does not and will not feel any threat to them through licensed properties because there is none. The machines, for example, are in establishments that require you to be old enough to play to enter the casino floor. Additionally, there isn't the stigma of gambling that you would find with tobacco. You won't find a Mickey Mouse branded one, but that is only because players wouldn't want to go to one.
I also forgot to mention, there are casinos legally operating in Florida, Anna Nichole Smith was found dead at the one in Hollywood, Florida. Disney's stance might not be so much a moral one but rather an aesthetic one or possibly even the concern that guests will leave the property (if they aren't on the property, they aren't buying your goods and services). They could open casinos on their ships and in the state, but if the regulations weren't strict enough they would have to deal with the low attendance. In Vegas, the number of gamblers keep shrinking and those that do still gamble keep spending less.
-
Cardinals314
- Peter Pan's Flight Pixie Duster
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Jun Mon 10, 2013 11:40 pm
- Location: 817
Re: Disney and Gambling
The reason that there aren't any casinos in prime Florida locations like Miami and Orlando is because of Disney lobbying against it. As you mentioned, it is because of competition Disney sees in those establishments. Disney could have gambling establishment on its ships, but Disney will not do that because they want to keep its family image.
Overall, I don't mind the practice of placing Marvel machines in casinos because of the age restriction. There may be some issues with the scratch-offs, but I don't believe that an 18 year old will be hooked on it (who knows really). I just see Disney as being a bit hypocritical on its stance.
Overall, I don't mind the practice of placing Marvel machines in casinos because of the age restriction. There may be some issues with the scratch-offs, but I don't believe that an 18 year old will be hooked on it (who knows really). I just see Disney as being a bit hypocritical on its stance.
My WDW Trip Report March 2013
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me"
-
Wizzard419
- Pirates of the Caribbean Buccaneer
- Posts: 5531
- Joined: Sep Sat 04, 2010 1:44 pm
- Location: Southern California
Re: Disney and Gambling
They really shouldn't give two s*its about what happens in Miami since they do not have a resort there and it isn't exactly a day trip, unlike people who go from WDW to USO. Now if the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando suddenly was able to open a Casino, that could spell trouble for Disney since it becomes a viable theme park destination that also allows for family activities while gambling... if this were 1997. As Vegas learned, you can up the vacation bookings from families but you end up losing your gamblers to non-family hotels/resorts for various reasons.
Citing family isn't really a good excuse either for the very simple reason that Miami and theme park vacations are, in the context of Florida, mutually exclusive vacations. Not even looking at gambling, the two attract different clientele with very little overlap. It also isn't hypocritical since they only appear in places where Disney doesn't have a physical presence.
The addiction factor from the machines is also more from the random interval re-enforcement rather than the packaging. If you have ever see the machines, or even played the free ones online, the connections between the franchise and the game are only on the surface.
Just for reference, DLR has legal casinos operating nearby (within 20 mins depending on the traffic) and there is no encroachment onto the property from them. They also, if I recall, voiced no opposition to the proposed high speed railway that would operate from Anaheim to Vegas.
Citing family isn't really a good excuse either for the very simple reason that Miami and theme park vacations are, in the context of Florida, mutually exclusive vacations. Not even looking at gambling, the two attract different clientele with very little overlap. It also isn't hypocritical since they only appear in places where Disney doesn't have a physical presence.
The addiction factor from the machines is also more from the random interval re-enforcement rather than the packaging. If you have ever see the machines, or even played the free ones online, the connections between the franchise and the game are only on the surface.
Just for reference, DLR has legal casinos operating nearby (within 20 mins depending on the traffic) and there is no encroachment onto the property from them. They also, if I recall, voiced no opposition to the proposed high speed railway that would operate from Anaheim to Vegas.