Looks like the Android tablets are starting to sneak up on Apple in the tablet arena. According to the latest Strategy Analytics report Android tablets have increased their share of the market by 10%, up to 39%, in the fourth quarter. Leading the growth for the Android systems is the Amazon Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tabs and Asus tablets. Tablet shipments (both Apple and Android based tablets) reached 27 million units shipped during the fourth quarter, that is a 150% increase from 2011.

After dropping our daughter off at JFK Airport in Queens last Thursday, my wife and I made our way over to the new $830 million Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack, about a 15 minute drive with the right traffic conditions to the East side of Manhattan.  As is typical with most racinos, a glitzy Las Vegas style building is attached to the aged and storied grandstands that front the original race track.  Developer Genting New York did a nice job with this facility, and they have certainly taken a bite out of their Yonkers rival Empire City at Yonkers Raceway.  Whether the pie gets bigger allowing both to flourish remains to be seen.  One thing seems obvious to this writer, however.  Electronic table games don’t cut it for the traditional table games player that still makes up a significant percentage of the gaming population.  Surrounded by states with table games in PA, CT, and even in New York’s own Indian gaming facilities, legislation that allows them to compete in this area is sure to be considered.

A recent Forbes article speaks to a new wave of employee confidence to which company executives should take note.  In an economy that continues to struggle (with slight improvements) – employees are finding their confidence and slowly emerging from the “I’m just happy to have this job” fog.  Companies need to recognize that to motivate their employees to not just work harder but simply stay on the job – incentives are critical.

The article discusses the need for companies to launch incentives before their employees launch themselves into a new job.  What’s unfortunate here is that companies do not already have these incentives in place.  While times of economic struggle often cause companies to tighten their belts — these are the times when incentive programs are needed most and instead of being cut – should be embraced and enhanced.

When employees see their co-workers packing up their desks and being walked out the door – they need to be reminded that despite tough changes – they themselves still have value and are needed at the company.  What some executives don’t realize is that employees do not inherently know this and need to be reminded often – which is exactly the type of impact incentives can have.

The author also makes mention of wellness programs.  Many companies have begun implementing wellness initiatives and are best served when they opt to tie it in with an overall incentive program.  Wellness and incentives are not mutually exclusive.  When tied together these two initiatives can further engage employees and remind them that the grass is not always greener.

In the ever-changing e-gambling industry, Zynga could be positioned to make the most noise.  With over 63 million daily active users of the online game “FarmVille” alone, Zynga could make a huge splash quickly if they decide to jump into gaming.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577173173534535212.html

If you ask someone to name the states with the largest annual gaming revenue most people in the know (even non-gamblers) would say “Nevada” and “New Jersey”.  Not so fast; make way for….Pennsylvania.  Hard to believe a state known for places like the Poconos and Amish Country has overtaken New Jersey with greater than 3 billion in revenue from its 10 operating casinos.  An 11^th will come on board as Valley Forge opens in the spring, and 3 other awarded licenses have yet to announce plans.  But with Atlantic City’s most anticipated opening since The Borgata opened – the long awaited Revel on the Northern most end of the Boardwalk – perhaps New Jersey can win back that #2 spot in 2013.

Pa. is now the country’s No. 2 state for casino revenue

In the ever-changing gaming industry, it can be difficult to keep your players coming back.  One of the best ways to create a memorable, positive gaming experience for your patrons is to host a Shopping Event.

A Shopping Event for your guests has many benefits:

• Increasing traffic at your property
• Improving your customer’s experience
• Building your customer relationships
• Reducing your point liability
• Giving the gift of choice

Allowing a guest to redeem their points for fabulous merchandise will create an emotional attachment to your property.  The guests that do attend will be treated to an experience they won’t soon forget.

Click here to learn about the Do’s and Don’ts of running Special Events.

These are all products featured at this year’s CES. The Consumer Electronic Show is the equivalent of 31 football fields full of emerging technology. This show never ceases to amaze me. There is quite a bit to see and comprehend in only 3 days. This year there was not a major focus on new categories. What I saw was several enhancements to existing categories. It appears to be the year of personal connection. Many manufacturers demonstrated how you can incorporate several of your electronic devices to communication with each other. Upload pictures/movies from your phone or camera to your TV, tablet or PC, etc.. Have your washer machine or dryer text you and tell you it is time to switch the clothes to the dryer. Now if they could just fold and put away for you.

My list of notable products from this year’s show;
• Samsung 55” OLED TV one of the largest of its kind in the market
• Sony’s Crystal LED display TV (approximately 600-million LED lights)
• Toshiba glasses free 3D TVs
• Sharp Freestyle Portable TVs – seriously you can take your TV anywhere (within 98’ of home base)
• Swiss Army Knife with a solid state drive (SSD)
• Ultrabooks, Ultrabooks, Ultrabooks – seems like everyone is coming out with the Ultrabook. A super thin, lightweight notebook to compete with Apple
• Apps, Apps, Apps – if you can think it, it is probably already out there and available for download
• Razor Fiona gaming tablet – conceptual at this time. Will run on Windows 8 with a $1000 price tag
• Roku streaming stick – turn your TV into an internet streaming device
• Phablet – Samsung is introducing the Samsung Galaxy Note. A cross between a phone and tablet
• OnLive – a free app that turns your iPad into a Windows PC desktop. Giving you access to games and Windows office
• Toshiba’s super thin tablet – only 7.7m and will run on the Android 4 platform (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Coming soon – 4G for cars. OnStar has partnered with Verizon to bring 4G to your family car
• Waterproof, Dustproof and Shockproof HD video and digital cameras. Many include live streaming and GPS tagging
• And finally Life Technologies unveiled a DNA sequencer designed to decode an entire human genome in a day for $1,000 by the end of 2012. This one scares me.

With the announcement on 1/12 that MGM Resorts International is pursuing land in Brimfield, MA for its casino bid, it joins a significant list of top 10 gaming companies interested in setting up shop in the Bay State.  In fact, of the 7 known casino initiatives, all but the Mashpee Wampanoag’s have announced major industry partners as part of their proposal:

• Suffolk Downs  (East Boston) -  Caesars Entertainment
• Foxboro  -  Wynn Resorts
• Palmer  -  Mohegan Sun
• Brimfield  -  MGM Resorts Int.
• Holyoke  -   Hard Rock International
• Springfield  -  Ameristar Gaming

It has also been rumored that Penn Gaming, predominantly an operator of racetrack casinos (“racinos”) is interested in applying for the Western MA license in an undisclosed location.  The only noticeably absent national player not accounted for yet is Las Vegas Sands Corp., whose owner, Sheldon Adelson, is a major player in the industry AND a Massachusetts resident that grew up in Dorchester!

At 11:00AM on January 12^th in the historic Hitchcock Academy, located in the sleepy town of Brimfield, MA, David Callahan announced that MGM Resorts International is his partner in a push for the lone Western, MA casino license.  A well known local, and owner of Palmer Paving Company, his family has hundreds of acres of land that abut the Massachusetts Turnpike in the extreme Northwestern area of town.  With Mr. Callahan to trumpet the news was Jim Murren, the CEO of MGM Resorts, and Bill Hornbuckle, the #2 in command and Chief Marketing Officer.  A number of other team members joined them.  So you can add MGM to the mix that already includes the longtime presence of Mohegan Sun in neighboring Palmer, as well as Ameristar and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, to those that have expressed interest in operating a resort casino in this part of the state.   This will be a long and arduous process, and the casino licensing commission is not yet formed, so stay tuned!

Though there will always be a need for the basic tee with conventional screen printing or golf shirt with traditional embroidery, it appears that there will be new trends for 2012.

The consensus from ASI suppliers seems to be:

“The Retail Look”:  Corporate apparel is definitely moving toward a more upscale, retail appearance and quality.  There is also more attention being paid to women’s attire and youth lines.  These more fashionable garments are being treated with two polarized methods of decoration.        

1. Subdued locations and colorations (smaller logos on the arm, hem, and back yoke placements and more subtle tone-on-tone treatments of logos).

2. Larger designs in more creative positions and / or using non-traditional media (wrap-around the waist, over the shoulder imprints, or all-over messaging and rhinestones, glitter, metallic inks, and foils).

So depending on the message you are trying to “put out there” with your wearables; tasteful, tactful, corporate conservatism, or bold, brassy, and “in your face” messaging, there are new styles and fresh decorating approaches this year.

In sales and business in general, we are always looking for ways to generate leads, make connections, promote our business, and network. With social networking sites and online tools, it has never been easier (or more overwhelming) to get connected and be heard. But with all of the options – what is the best and do we really need to have our name associated with every site out there? The answer to those questions is subjective but certainly one thing is undeniable – you can’t ignore it (it’s not going away)!

Click here for a graphic representation of some of the things that happen every 60 seconds on the internet (and think about how many of them could positively impact your business if you were connected to them).

With electronic devices changing so quickly some may be wondering what is the best way to discard the old.   Do my old electronics have any value, should I resell, should I donate to someone who could use them, where can I drop off products to be recycled?  All great questions and all depend on what the old electronic item is that you have to dispose of. Best Buy and Staples offer a cash-back program. Recyclebank allows you to earn points for recycling. Gazelle.com has paid out over $25M for used consumer electronics. Close the Gap refurbs your old computers and sends them to underprivileged individuals in Africa.

To help you decide what is best for you visit the following like for a variety of options.

http://greenergadgets.org/recycling-responsibly.html

The implications of this Forbes article are far ranging but from the standpoint of Employee Engagement the message is clear.  Companies that ignore the need to interact with their employees on a higher level than was normal in decades past risk finding themselves the victim of destructive undercurrents at the hands of their own staff.

Click here for the full story

In the article “The Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail to Keep Their Best Talent,” I believe that the writer omits one very significant reason.  Rewards and recognition clearly play a critical role in keeping top talent at both small and large companies — but were left out of the article.  Companies that choose to ignore this fact will notice that it is a contributing factor to their best and brightest walking out the door.

The fact is, no matter what a person’s position within an organization, they want to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work.  Many companies will say, “Well, that’s why they get paid the big bucks.”   And on some level that is true.  But compensation only goes so far.  Employees inherently desire to be patted on the back for a job well done.

According to a survey conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM),  voluntary resignations are rising – 90% of employees cite lack of recognition and feeling underappreciated as reason for leaving.

So, while the writer of the article makes many valid points, rewards and recognition simply cannot be left off the list.  The benefits of a carefully structured rewards and recognition program go well beyond employee retention to encompass employee motivation and goal attainment, customer satisfaction and retention, and more.

Recently in the news we learned that many anonymous donors are paying the layaway balances of families less fortunate enabling them to fulfill their holiday hopes.
(Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaway Accounts)

What I like most about this story is the spirit of “paying it forward” that comes to life.  This concept, while often plentiful at the holidays, truly is one that can be applied year-round not only in one’s personal life but also in the work place.  The beauty of the concept is that the gesture need not be a grand one for it to leave a lasting impression on fellow employees or the organization as a whole.

I firmly believe that paying it forward in the workplace – whether it be offering to help someone with a one-time project, being a person’s back-up while they are out of the office, or sharing a positive attitude can be inspiring to others and inherently encourage them to pass it along.  Employers can benefit by encouraging these types of pay it forward acts of kindness as a work environment that fosters teamwork and support is a happier, more engaged place to be.

Maybe my sentiments are overly filled with the joy of the season but none of the things I mentioned cost any of us anything – and these are the types of rewards from which our co-workers and employers can benefit way beyond the holiday season.  So, embrace the pay it forward mentality beyond December and you may just reap the rewards yourself.