Bonus Round: An Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Podcast

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming

Bonus Round is a new podcast from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming that takes a deep dive into game performance, analytics, and other market trends in the casino and gaming industry, with insight from EKG analysts and special guests.

Episodes

  1. Jun 10

    Episode 12: The Art and Science of Casino Merchandising with Jennifer Bell of Egads

    In this episode of Bonus Round, Brendan Moore and Jennifer Bell, President of Egads, explore the art and science of casino merchandising and experiential design. They cover everything from retail-inspired floor psychology to triggerable signage that turns a single jackpot into a floor-wide event. This is a rare look at how hardware and atmosphere shape the way players experience a casino.

    39 min

  2. Mar 30

    Episode 11: Talking True Persistence with Tangam's Ari Mizrachi

    In this episode of Bonus Round, Brendan Moore and Jared Book are joined by Ari Mizrachi of Tangam Systems for a status update on True Persistence games. The discussion explores the spectrum of True Persistence styles from short-cycle to long-cycle and digs into what GPD data reveals about performance and design trends. The conversation also covers impacts that fall outside standard floor KPIs, including what True Persistence means for the retail player experience and what operators can actually do about it.

    53 min

  3. Mar 17

    Episode 10: Aristocrat's Dan Marks on Building Award-Winning Slot Games

    In this episode of Bonus Round, Brendan Moore and Jared Book speak with Dan Marks, SVP of Gaming at Aristocrat and founder of Gimme Games, following Aristocrat's big night at the 8th Annual EKG Slot Awards. Dan shares the story behind how successful slot games are created, from early hits like Sky Rider to recent award-winning titles like Spooky Link. The conversation explores how modern game development blends creativity, math models, and data-driven testing to identify themes that resonate with players. For operators, suppliers, aspiring game designers, and anyone curious about what happens behind the scenes of the slot machine business, this episode offers a rare inside look at how award-winning games come to life.

    54 min

  4. Feb 23

    Episode 9: Slot Innovation and Mechanics in 2025

    In this episode, the EKG Game Performance Database team reviews nominees for the 8th Annual EKG Slot Awards' Most Innovative Land-Based Slot Game category. We also break down our latest Data Insights report on key attributes and mechanics shaping 2025's new Core Video releases. This episode gets technical, diving into the nuts and bolts of the innovations pushing the industry forward.

    36 min

  5. 11/04/2025

    Episode 8: EKG's Post-G2E 2025 Discussion with GPD Analysts

    This episode features a discussion with EKG's Game Performance Database (GPD) analyst team. From game and cabinet innovation to core vs. premium products and supplier highlights, the team shares what caught their eye. The discussion includes - Brendan Moore - Director, Game Performance & Analytics, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Jared Book - Manager, Game Performance & Analytics, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Linden Peterson - Manager, Game Performance & Analytics, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming

    40 min

  6. 10/27/2025

    Episode 7: EKG's Annual Post-G2E 2025 Operator Roundtable

    This episode features a recording of our annual Post-G2E operator discussion recorded on Thursday, October 23rd 2025. In this episode, EKG moderates a panel discussion with key operators from locals, regional, destination, and tribal markets about what stood out at this year's show. Panelists discuss their main takeaways from G2E including: broad industry trends, game and cabinet innovation, evolution of core and premium products, supplier callouts, as well as technology and systems.  The panel includes - Moderator: Brendan Moore - Director, Game Performance & Analytics, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Panelists: Jordan Whitten - Executive Director of Slot Strategy, MGM Resorts International Dan Cherry - President, DC Gaming Consulting  Randy Simpson - Slot Manager, Prairie Band Casino & Resort

    59 min

  7. 09/30/2025

    Episode 6: An Incredible Journey

    In this episode airing the week before G2E 2025, Jared Book speaks with Shawn Cassatt, Director of Product Management at Incredible Technologies, for a deep dive into how the company approaches product strategy from start to finish. Shawn shares how IT balances stays tuned into market trends while also continues to innovate and differentiate. Shawn also weighs in on one of the most discussed topics in the industry today: True Persistence, and how Incredible Technologies positions itself within that conversation and how it is reacting to operator concerns.

    30 min

  8. 08/19/2025

    Episode 5: Is Cost-to-Cover Inflation in Slots All Upside?

    Cost-to-cover bets in land-based slot games are on the rise, outpacing general price inflation and shaping player behavior. In this episode, we discuss cost-to-cover inflation is all upside for the industry. Featuring insights from seasoned operator veterans, Fred David and Robert Allen, we explore the impact to the industry.

    36 min

  9. 07/08/2025

    Episode 4: Full Steam Ahead with Sega Sammy

    In this episode, Brendan Moore and Jared Book speak with Sega Sammy CEO Naoki Kameda and President & COO Takashi Maekawa about the company's evolution from its roots in pachinko and arcade gaming to becoming an award-winning slot manufacturer in North America. Topics include: The origin story of Sega Sammy Creation The success of Railroad Riches and the Genesis Atmos cabinet What's next for Sega Sammy: from new themes and expansion

    33 min

  10. 06/09/2025

    Episode 3: Reviewing The EILERS-FANTINI Q1-2025 Slot Survey

    In this episode, Brendan Moore and Jared Book meet with Phil Bernard, Managing Director of Gaming Equipment & Technology, to review the Q1-2025 Slot Survey results. We take a look at those results and compare to historical benchmarks and discuss operators' forward looking outlook in an uncertain macro enivornment. We also discuss sales and gaming ops trends.

    33 min

  11. 03/04/2025

    Episode 2: Pigs vs Dragons

    Today's episode covers product analysis on a few important game series in the industry: Light & Wonder's Huff N Puff and Aristocrat's Dragon Link and the newly debuted Phoenix Link. The Game Performance & Analytics team also discusses some product segment trends with insights from the recent Cabinet Sales & Lease report.

    29 min
  12. Episode 1: 2024 Land-Based Slot Trends

    01/28/2025

    Episode 1: 2024 Land-Based Slot Trends

    In the premiere episode of Bonus Round, Brendan Moore and Jared Book from the EKG Game Performance team sit down to discuss some insights from recent operator polls and land-based slot trends in 2024.

    25 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Bonus Round is a new podcast from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming that takes a deep dive into game performance, analytics, and other market trends in the casino and gaming industry, with insight from EKG analysts and special guests.

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