43
Hollywood Gaming halfway through first big promotion
By ROBERT CONNELLY
AUSTINTOWN
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course awarded cash and free play Sunday as part of its first big promotion.
The grand prize is a Chevrolet Traverse, which is usually parked near the valet drop-off section in front of the main entrance, 777 Hollywood Drive.
Scott Frost, Hollywood Gaming marketing director, said members of the Marquee Rewards loyalty program earn one entry a day just by putting their card in a machine. On top of that, another entry is earned for every $25 of money put into the machines on the gaming floor.
There were three drawings Sunday night, at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., in the promotion’s first drawing. Those prizes include cash and free play. The final drawing is Nov. 23, the day before live thoroughbred racing is set to begin at the facility, for a Chevrolet Traverse. Again, there will be drawings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. – the draw for the car is last.
There are four options for the grand prize — the car, $22,000 cash, $27,000 in free play credits, or another Chevy model of equal or lesser value. The free play credits would be divided over six month installations.
“When they show up for the drawings, in order to be eligible they have to put their card in and out of a machine within two hours” of the drawings, Frost explained. That is to make sure that the person is actually in the facility and they have 10 minutes to present themselves after their name is drawn.
Bob Tenenbaum, spokesperson for Penn National Gaming, Inc., said, “It’s pretty typical to have car give-away promotions ... those are major promotions. All of our facilities conduct them periodically.”
He also said, “They’re obviously something that customers are particularly interested in and they are a visible kind of promotion, and frankly, who doesn’t want an opportunity to win a car.”
Frost explained why they decided to go with a Traverse, not the Lordstown-built Cruze.
He said that officials wanted something with “a broader appeal to families and of course if the winner does not want the Traverse, they can pick the Chevy model of their choice of equal or lesser value, so they can still get a Cruze if they want to.”
Hollywood Gaming used a Chevrolet dealership in Bowling Green that Penn National Gaming Inc. has used at the Toledo property, where many of the managers here came from, to acquire the vehicle.
“We tried to use a local dealership and the relationship didn’t work out. Actually, a week or so before the promotion started, they decided they didn’t want to partner on the promotion,” Frost detailed.
He continued, “I’m hoping as time goes on, we’ll develop relationships with all three of the domestic automakers and establish some local relationships with dealers here.”