Big Summit show slated in Billings April 8-9
Pub Date: 4/1/2008
By Roger Porter
Ah, it must be spring... The flowers are beginning to bloom, the nights are warmer and some say love is in he air.
And, a sure sign of spring is Summit Gaming's annual Open House and Customer Appreciation Days, this year to be conducted April 8-9 at the Shrine Auditorium in Billings.
In keeping with tradition, Summit Marketing Manager Curt Hagerty promises this year's gala will be bigger and better than ever and he's never misled about that assertion before.
What began 12 years ago as a casual affair held at the firm s offices on Overland Ave. in Billings has grown into a two-day must attend event for those involved in the gaming industry.
This year's event will be a blend of the fun and the serious. On the serious side, Summit is once more offering their popular technical classes on both days with hands-on training seminars covering all Summit products and ancillary devices.
Beginner classes will commence each morning at 10:30. Advanced classes are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Representative from the manufacturers of printers and bill acceptors will also be on hand to answer any of your questions. Classes are limited so please call Summit at 406-652-3239 to reserve a spot.
Eagerly anticipating his first Open House and Customer Appreciation Days is SummIt's new general manager, Kevin Peterson, who commented, We are very excited to show our gratitude and appreciation to our loyal customers and friends. I ve had the opportunity to meet with numerous customers already but look forward to meeting many more at our open house.
Also in a serious vein and for the first time will be two presentations put on by the State of Montana.
Beginning at 3:30 p.m. each day, Tom Oberweiser, Gambling Control Divisions Investigations Supervisor will address implementing security measures and methods of preventing gaming machine fraud.
He will be followed by Gambling Control s Al Arvish who will provide information and a demonstration on the forth coming internet based automated accounting and reporting system for the state s gaming machines.
Both of these presentations deal with subjects of high current interest to the industry and should be put on your must attend list.
According to Hagerty, the show will allow guests to preview the newest Summit has to offer both in products and upgrades.
New and exciting in the MegaPlex series are sure to be customer pleasers such as Cow Abduction Keno(!), Gold Works Keno and Spill Over Poker. For the tried and true Royal Touch line Summit will be introducing Tom Cat Keno and Poker Dogs just to name a couple.
Hagerty commented that these new poker and keno games were produced with the Montana customer in mind and feature plenty of interactivity and liberal bonus rounds.
Rounding out the two-day affair will be some fun events.
A new twist this year will be Summit s version of a video poker/tournament held each afternoon on the hour when 10 lucky contestants will be chosen to play a certain game in an allotted time beginning with the same number of machine credits.
At the end of each game the contestant with the most credits earns a trip to the Grab for Cash Booth where hundreds of dollars fluttering in the air wait to be plucked.
Also slated is Summit s version of Let's Make a Deal scheduled to be played live on the stage. Guests will have a chance to win cash and prizes. Players will have to be on their toes because no one knows what lurks behind the curtains. In addition players have an opportunity to spin for Summit merchandise.
Lest we forget, one of the most popular attractions is the food cooked and served by the Shrine staff. With lunch at 11:30 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. each day, the seafood, steaks, pastas and delicious desserts are sure to satisfy the palate of all those in attendance. Expect the usual complement of beverages.
Put all these elements together and you have the makings of a great event aimed at thanking the Summit friends, current and future.
So mark your calendars for April 8-9 and make a bee-line for Billings to enjoy the open house from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
According to Peterson, This show is for you. It has grown into one of the premier events in the Montana gaming industry and we encourage everyone to come and see our new products, talk to our folks, have some lunch or dinner and just have a great time.
The Tavern Times will be there, too. So, see you in Billings!
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, April, 2008, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.