Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

March 29, 2012

Caesars Total Resorts World?

Posted by daveschwartz

Could the new Total Rewards signal more than an aesthetic shift for Caesars Entertainment? It's possible. Armed with a few images and my imagination, I'll take you on a little journey into the possible future...


I'll leave the font-smithing and stylistic deconstruction to Chuckmonster, and I'm going to withhold my comments on the aesthetic merits of the new design (though I invite you to share yours in the comments. Instead, I want to take a look beyond the art and engage in some unfounded, but fun, speculation.

First of all, here's the Total Rewards logo that got replaced:

store_logo_TotalRewards.JPG

On March 1, Caesars rolled out its new logo:

total_rewards_logo.jpg

Something about it kept nagging at me--it looked familiar. Then, as I was looking for some photos of Resorts World New York, I realized why it did:

Resorts_World.jpg

That certainly looks more than a bit familiar--the initial letters encased in a globe-like structure. Sure, the Resorts World letters pretty much compose the globe, while the Total Rewards letters are encased in it, but if you squint it almost looks the same.

Why would one of the largest casino companies in the world pick a logo for its loyalty program that looks remarkably similar to the logo of another gaming giant?

Is it possible that a merger or acquisition between Caesars and Genting is in the offing?

Before you dismiss this out of hand, lets take a look at both companies. Caesars owns and/or operates 52 casinos, mostly in the US and UK. It's no secret that Caesars is highly leveraged. The company's own 10-K report admits it. As of December 31, 2001, the company was $22.7 billion in debt, with debt service obligations of $1.7 billion in 2012. That's a lot of money--more than all of the casino revenues from its Las Vegas casinos combined. Yes, that's right: if you took every penny the casinos won from gambling, you still couldn't meet those debt obligations.

Yet Caesars needs to grow to survive--its Total Rewards system is only as good as it is broad. In addition, the company has been completely shut out of Asia, the biggest growth market of the past decade, and has no realistic prospect of entering it anytime soon.

Genting, on the other hand, is seemingly cash-rich--wealthy enough to bet big on the legalization of Florida casinos, a bet that hasn't paid off. It's already licensed in the U.S. (the afore-mentioned Resorts World New York) but clearly has an appetite for more expansion. In addition to its flagship Malaysia project in Genting Highlands, the company owns Resorts World Singapore, one of only two casinos in the booming market, and 46 casinos in the United Kingdom. The company is also fairly diversified, with ownership interests in cruise lines and everything from rubber plantations to biotech.

So a merger between the two companies, or an outright or partial acquisition of Caesars by Genting, could benefit both parties. A merged Genting Caesars would likely have to shed some UK casinos, but otherwise the portfolios are complementary.

And if you just smash "Caesars Entertainment" and "Resorts World" together, what do you get? "Caesars World." The company that owned the Caesars casinos and other hospitality outlets (how can we forget Steakthing?) from the 1970s until the Park Place Entertainment acquisition. Maybe, just maybe, it all makes sense.


Comments

Read archived comments (9 so far)
March 30, 2012 3:49 AM Posted by detroit1051

This IS great fun, and Dr. Dave could very well be the first to project the future. What a powerhouse Genting and Caesars would be: resorts around the world, casinos everywhere, other travel entertainment businesses such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, It truly would be Caesars World once again. Genting is proceeding with a non-gaming Resorts World Miami; Caesars might be helpful in getting commercial gaming here.

March 30, 2012 7:15 AM Posted by jinx

Great speculation and insight. Also following Detroit's post, let's not forget that Caesars has a fairly significant relationship with, I believe, Norwegian too.

By the way, I do like the new logo and I like the way they've made it relevant with their online game. It's dominant in their game and the launch coincided with their typical timeframe to send out new cards to members that are plat, diamond, and above, so well timed in getting it in the hands of their higher level gamblers. If you compare it to the MRI's mLife campaigns it really blows it away.

March 30, 2012 8:47 AM Posted by detroit1051

Caesars slot tournament on Norwegian:
https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/6391-norwegian-and-caesars-entertainment-partner-for-slot-tournament-at-sea.html

March 30, 2012 9:17 AM Posted by Dave

I actually got a mailer to go on a free cruise with Norwegian through Caesars. At least I think it was a free cruise. The mailer was kind of vague about that.

March 30, 2012 7:07 PM Posted by parchedearth

An intriguing analysis, but I really don't think it is practical. Genting is in such a superior position that they have almost nothing to gain from a merger. The finances require Caesars' owners to lose everything in a merger. The only asset of value is Caesars Palace; everything else can be purchase piece-meal without assuming the debt.

As a prediction, I would look at Genting acquiring the Palms, Hard Rock , or Cosmo before a merger with Caesars.

April 2, 2012 11:22 AM Posted by BigHoss

Who really cares as long as they bring Steakthing back.

April 3, 2012 8:59 AM Posted by Dave

Son of Steakthing?

April 5, 2012 5:28 PM Posted by Paul Shanahan

Caesars Entertainment new logo (and burnt orange color) with the Tand R in a twisty slinkylike font is kind of funky and cool. The old black and white logo was boring and dull.

I agree with detroit1051, Genting wants to build a big hotel in Miami and if casino gambling ever got approved in Florida Caesars Entertainment would want to have a major presence in Florida.

But the problem is Disney wants no part of gambling in Florida because of their huge investment in Disney World. Now the question is who gets the better lobbyists (Disney or gaming companies) to either pass a major gambling bill or deny it in Florida. This all comes to one thing: money, lots and lots and lots of money. Lobbyists in Florida are now open for business and the shell game begins.

April 6, 2012 8:13 AM Posted by Dave

^ Good points. The Seminoles are an important part of the equation, too.